Nikola Jokic stole the show in Game 5 of the exciting second-round series between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite being guarded by the 4-time DPOY winner Rudy Gobert, Jokic managed to contribute 40 points in the 112-97 win, which disappointed Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, who shared a piece of advice with the Wolves center.
During a recent episode of his podcast “KG’s Certified,” Garnett conveyed a message to Gobert. “You gotta switch it up, bro… You can’t just give [Nikola Jokic] the same dose… Be a presence in there motherf*cker… You 7’5. Play like it,” said the former NBA great.
The 15-time All-Star suggested that Gobert should take advantage of his height against the Nuggets’ big man, although he got the figure wrong as the French man is 7-foot-1. Being a DPOY winner (2000) himself, Garnett knows a thing or two about slowing down the opponent’s defense, but holding back a dominant center like Nikola Jokic is no easy task.
Many questioned Gobert’s DPOY win after game 5 performance, but after losing three back-to-back games and going down by 3-2, the 31-year-old returned with a vengeance in game 6 against the reigning champions.
Rudy Gobert Handles Business Against Nikola Jokic and Co. in Game 6
The two teams are hammering and tonging each other with their best qualities in every game, making the semifinal series a nail-biting one. With a remarkable performance on Thursday, the Wolves proved why they are one of the best defensive teams this season.
The Denver-based franchise was held only at 70 points while the Minnesota squad scored 115 points. Nikola Jokic, who is otherwise difficult to defend, got obstructed by Rudy Gobert following three successive failures.
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The Serbian guard still managed to put up 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds while shooting 9-of-19 from the floor but didn’t get much offensive help from his teammates. On the flip side, Gobert chipped in 8 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Anthony Edwards (27 points) and Jaden McDaniels (21 points) led the offensive field for the Wolves. Gobert’s defensive masterclass against Jokic on Thursday earned him a rapturous round of applause from the home crowd.
This is the third time that a team led by Jokic in a playoff game has been held at 80 points or less and coincidentally, all three times the 31-year-old French center stood tall in the defense, even when the latter was with the Utah Jazz.
Anything can happen in the final Game 7 on Sunday at the Ball Arena, where both the teams will try to get the win to advance in the Western Conference Finals. Still, if the Timberwolves are to topple the Denver, Rudy Gobert must be a juggernaut.
Also Read: Lil Wayne Disapproves of Nikola Jokic Due to His Resemblance to the “Dad of the YMCA Player”
