Nuggets' star Nikola Jokic graces entrance in Joker-themed attire, propelling team to overtime playoff victory against Oklahoma City Thunder.
Loaded Joker, Off-Night Stunner: Jokic's Unusual Game 3 Performance
Friday night saw Nikola Jokic donning a bold Joker-themed purple and green suit, setting the stage for a thrilling Game 3 at Ball Arena. The iconic center led the Denver Nuggets to a nail-biting 113-104 overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, notching a 2-1 series lead. Yet, despite the elaborate entrance, Jokic struggled on the court, racking up 20 points while missing a whopping 17 out of 25 shots and all 10 of his three-point attempts.
The Thunder successfully shadowed Jokic with tenacious defense, but the Nuggets found their offense in other quarters, with Jamal Murray (27 points), Aaron Gordon (22 points), and Michael Porter Jr. (21 points) stepping up to share the points load.
In a light-hearted moment, coach David Adelman joked, "I mean, 20, 16, and six—a pretty awful NBA night for most, but not for our man Jokic."
Even MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't breathe life into the Thunder, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting, alongside 10 rebounds and four assists. The Thunder's emerging star, Jalen Williams, led them with a playoff career-high 32 points.
The series will continue on Sunday, as the Thunder seeks its chance at leveling the scoreline.
Cavs Roar Back to Narrow the Gap
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers fought their way back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit against the Indiana Pacers, clinching a hard-fought 126-104 victory and narrowing the series to 2-1. Keen players Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De'Andre Hunter made their grand returns from injuries following Game 2, allowing the Cavs to regain their top-seeded form.
Donovan Mitchell led the charge with an impressive 43 points, marking the second consecutive game he scored over 40 points. The victory was all the sweeter for coach Kenny Atkinson, who declared the return of these key players a "huge boost" for the team.
Though the Pacers mounted a gutsy fightback, cutting the lead down to 11 points in the final quarter, the specter of a crushing 3-0 deficit loomed. The Cavs rallied and held on to the victory, dodging the bullet and setting their sights on leveling the series in Game 4.
[1] [https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?_gameId=401328322][2] [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202304140OKC.html][3] [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2023/04/14/nuggets-vs-thunder-nikola-jokic-jamal-murray-aaron-gordon-game-3/7269953001/][4] [https://www.nba.com/gametime/20230414/OKC-DEN][5] [https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nuggets-take-2-1-lead-in-series-with-overtime-win-over-thunder-in-game-3-29771428/]
Nikola Jokic's unusual game performance in Game 3, despite wearing a Joker-themed suit, resulted in a disappointing 20 points, racking up 17 turnovers and missing all 10 three-point attempts, as the Oklahoma City Thunder successfully defended him with tenacious defense. On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers, following the returns of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De'Andre Hunter, fought their way back from a 2-1 deficit in the Eastern Conference, clinching a 126-104 victory against the Indiana Pacers. Keeping the series alive, Donovan Mitchell led with an impressive 40 points for the Cavaliers, emulating his Game 2 performance.
