All articles tagged with #jokic
Shams Charania reports Anthony Edwards could return for Minnesota in Games 3–4 of the Timberwolves’ second-round series after a knee bone bruise, Luka Doncic remains week-to-week with a left hamstring strain, Nuggets coach David Adelman is set for a second full season in Denver, and Denver is expected to pursue significant roster changes around Nikola Jokic to build a title-contending supporting cast.
Denver’s season ended with a 110-98 loss to a shorthanded Minnesota squad, prompting the question whether their championship window is still ajar or close to shutting. Jokic underdelivered and Murray went cold, while injuries to Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson left Denver’s depth exposed. With Jokic’s upcoming max extension, a heavy payroll, and few tradable assets, this summer will test the team’s ability to reshuffle on a constrained budget. A healthier, deeper roster could keep the window open, but the path to sustained contention looks tighter than it did a few weeks ago.
Denver finished 54–28 (3rd in the West) behind a historic offense and a superstar season from Nikola Jokić (27.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 10.7 APG; league leader in rebounds and assists) with Jamal Murray breaking out as a full-season star. Offseason moves brought Cameron Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr., but injuries limited key pieces (Braun 44 games, Johnson 54, Gordon 36) and Denver’s defense ranked 21st (117.4 DRtg) despite the record offense. After a 12-game closing run to lock the No. 3 seed, the Nuggets were upset in the first round by Minnesota; Jokić notched a 27–12–16 triple‑double in Game 5 but Denver couldn’t complete the rally. The result raises questions about next steps with roster and health considerations ahead.
Nikola Jokic reiterated his desire to sign a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this summer, saying he wants to spend his career in Denver after the team’s first-round exit. He previously declined a three-year, roughly $207 million offer, and this offseason could bring about $80 million more in potential earnings.
Denver’s first‑round exit to Minnesota sets up a high‑stakes summer: the front office must decide whether to chase another title by absorbing a steep luxury‑tax bill or pivot by reshaping the roster with traded veterans. With Jokic and Murray anchoring a core that includes health‑prone Aaron Gordon, the team faces crucial decisions on extensions and contracts (including Jokic’s potential extension and the looming 2027 free agency), while weighing moves for players like Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Peyton Watson and continuing to develop Julian Strawther. Tax constraints limit tantalizing upgrades, making the path forward—whether to stay course or reimage—central to Denver’s championship window.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in game six to win the series 4-2 and advance to face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. Nikola Jokic had 28 points and 10 assists but was involved in a late-game altercation with Jaylen Clark, adding to a prior ejection in game four. Jaden McDaniels delivered a career-high 32 points for Minnesota, and Anthony Edwards could return for Monday’s opener against the Spurs to boost the Wolves.
Denver blew past Minnesota 125-113 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead and push the series back to Minneapolis for Game 6. The Timberwolves played shorthanded without Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee/bone injury), committing 25 turnovers and failing to find rhythm after a tight first half that ended with Jokic’s buzzer-beater three. Denver surged in the third quarter, 37-24, helped by Spencer Jones’ 11-point flurry, while Naz Reid left briefly with an ankle issue before returning. Minnesota must regroup in Game 6 to avoid a possible Game 7 in Denver.
Nikola Jokic delivered a 27-point, 12-rebound, 16-assist triple-double to lift the Denver Nuggets to a 125-113 win over Minnesota, tightening the series and forcing a decisive Game 6 in Minneapolis as Denver’s defense sharpened and teammates stepped up.
The NBA fined Nikola Jokic $50,000 and Julius Randle $35,000 for their roles in a late-game scuffle after Game 4 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves; no suspensions were issued. Jaden McDaniels sparked the incident with a late layup as the game ended. The Timberwolves’ DiVincenzo is out for the postseason and Anthony Edwards will miss weeks, but Jokic and Randle are set to play in Game 5 as the shorthanded roster hopes to rebound.
The NBA fined Nikola Jokic $50,000 and Julius Randle $35,000 for their roles in the late-game scuffle between the Nuggets and Timberwolves; both were ejected but no suspensions were issued after review since no punches were thrown, with Minnesota leading the series 3-1 as Denver faced elimination.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama are the NBA MVP finalists, marking an international matchup between a Canadian guard, a two-time MVP center, and a rising rookie as the award race unfolds.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic was named an NBA MVP finalist alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, aiming for a sixth straight top-two finish after averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game. Tim Hardaway Jr. is a Sixth Man of the Year finalist and Jamal Murray a Clutch Player of the Year finalist, with the MVP winner typically announced early in the second round of the playoffs.
Denver opted to rest most of its rotation in Friday’s game to protect health and influence playoff bracket, signaling a preference for avoiding Minnesota early and prioritizing health over seeding. With Sunday’s finale at San Antonio looming, the Nuggets could land anywhere from No. 3 to No. 4 seed depending on results, while Jokic is expected to play at least 15 minutes to meet a 65‑game minimum for awards, though the final call depends on health and ownership input. The decision-making reflects a nuanced balance: try to optimize matchups versus Minnesota/OKC and Houston, or protect key players for later rounds.
Denver’s outrage over Lu Dort’s flagrant foul on Nikola Jokić persisted two days after the incident, with coach David Adelman calling the hit malicious and a cheap shot; Jokic acknowledged battling emotions and said such plays have no place, while Thunder coach Mark Daigneault faced questions over his response ahead of a rematch in Oklahoma City.
Nikola Jokic confronted Lu Dort after Dort tripped him in the backcourt, sparking a heated exchange that led to Dort’s ejection and Jokic (along with Thunder’s Jaylin Williams) earning technicals as Denver fell 127-121 in overtime to Oklahoma City. Jokic, who battled a sore wrist and shot poorly, finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists, while Jamal Murray led Denver with 39. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from injury to pour in 36 for OKC before being pulled after regulation, highlighting a physical, rivalry-feeling night that ended in an OT thriller.