What we have been seeing from Nikola Jokic of Sombor, Serbia as of late is outstanding basketball from many different perspectives. On Tuesday in game one of the Western Conference Final, Jokic came through with his 12th career post season triple-double (more than any center in NBA playoff history) in a 132-126 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jokic had 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists. He made 12 of 17 field goals, all three three-point attempts, seven of eight free throws, and had two blocked shots and was a +11.
The Nuggets were the much better team in the first half. They had a 72-54 lead at the midway point, and by the time Denver and Los Angeles went to the locker room for their break, Jokic already had a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds.
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Jokic’s triple-double on Tuesday had historical impact. He became the first player ever to have a 30-point triple-double and have 70% shooting in consecutive playoff games according to ESPN. In game one, Jokic’s field goal percentage was .706. In game six of the second round on Thursday, a 125-100 Nuggets win over the Phoenix Suns, Jokic had 32 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and had a field goal percentage of .722.
The Lakers meanwhile had the edge in the second half, as they outscored Denver 72-60. After the Nuggets had a 20-point lead at 101-81 with three minutes and 28 seconds left in the third quarter, the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 45-31 over the final 15 minutes and pulled within three points with one minute and 12 seconds left after LeBron James made two key free throws. Anthony Davis of the Lakers led both teams in scoring with 40 points.
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