After scoring 53 points for nothing in Game 4, Nikola Jokic resumed his good habits with a 10th career triple-double in the playoffs. In a victory built in two stages, the Serb finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. All at 60%, and he is only the 8th player in history to reach the bar of 10 triple-doubles in the playoffs. He is also the first pivot, and he thus overtakes Wilt Chamberlain!
When Ernie Johnson tells him during the post-game interview, he is amazed and proud, and he can’t help but ask: “And how much is the Shaq?” » And Shaquille O’Neal responds: ” None. I’ve never made any passes.”
Joking aside, Jokic is the best scorer, rebounder and passer in these conference semifinals. That is to say if he is at his best level when some had forgotten him at the end of the season… From his performance, we will remember his almost perfect second half with 19 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds at 8 out of 9 to shots. And again, we talk about “second half”, but Jokic sat the whole second half of the last quarter.
Jokic lets the game come to him
“The difference is that we were aggressive on both sides of the pitch” he explains about the adjustments made. “We took them out of their favorite sports, even the “post-up”. They couldn’t do it often, but they have so much talent that it’s hard to defend. In the first quarter, we played as if we had our backs against the wall, and that’s how you have to play. »
Asked about his card in Game 4, and this return to a more classic performance, he adds: “I just look at what the game gives me. Today I opened the game for others, tried to relax and waited for the game to come to me. »
| Nikola Jokic | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | DEN | 80 | 22 | 51.2 | 33.3 | 81.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 10.0 |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 73 | 28 | 57.8 | 32.4 | 82.5 | 2.9 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 16.7 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 49.9 | 39.6 | 85.0 | 2.6 | 8.1 | 10.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 18.5 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 80 | 31 | 51.1 | 30.7 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 73 | 32 | 52.8 | 31.4 | 81.7 | 2.3 | 7.5 | 9.7 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2020-21 ★ | DEN | 72 | 35 | 56.6 | 38.8 | 86.8 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 ★ | DEN | 74 | 34 | 58.3 | 33.7 | 81.0 | 2.8 | 11.0 | 13.8 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 69 | 34 | 63.2 | 38.3 | 82.2 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 24.5 |
| Total | 596 | 31 | 55.3 | 34.8 | 82.9 | 2.6 | 7.9 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 20.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
