HOWLER
NBA MVP Nikola Jokic makes unwanted history as Denver Nuggets thrashed by 45 points in embarrassing playoff loss
Jokic had some strong words after the loss
NIKOLA Jokic made the record books in a humiliating 115-70 defeat on Thursday.
The Denver Nuggets were one game away from securing a spot in the NBA's Western Conference Playoffs with home-court advantage.
2
2
But the Minnesota Timberwolves had other plans and earned an emphatic road victory.
With the series level at 3-3, Game 7 in Denver is set to be a high-stakes showdown on Sunday.
And Jokic, 29, will be hoping to bounce back from the worst playoff defeat for an MVP since 1956, per Sports Center.
Sixty-eight years ago, the unlucky MVP was Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, whose St. Louis Hawks went down 133-75 to the Minneapolis Lakers.
read more in basketball
"They beat our a**," Jokic told NBA TV.
"They were better than us in every segment of the game.
"We need to accept it. Take it and just try to be better next time.
"When you lose by 45, it’s not something that happens every day. Just accept it, you know. I'm cool with it."
Most read in Basketball
Jokic finished the game with 22 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
Denver was 0-2 to start the series leading Stephen A. Smith to make what he later joked was the worst prediction of his First Take career.
Kay Adams asks NBA insider 'do you need a minute' after guest comes on NFL host's show while on the phone
"I think that the Denver Nuggets are on the edge of getting swept," he said on First Take.
"And I believe that the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to win the world championship."
The Nuggets then won three straight, outscoring their opponents 344-294.
"Right now, the Minnesota Timberwolves have me looking like I have made the worst prediction in the history of my career," Smith admitted on Wednesday.
"I've never been more embarrassed by a prediction that I have made than what I did when I was in South Beach last week."
2024 NBA Draft order - lottery picks
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto)
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston)
- Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State)
Smith's take got a bit warmer last night and he could be somewhat vindicated if the Timberwolves can earn another road victory to take the series.
The winner will face either the Dallas Mavericks or Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas is up 3-2 on the series ahead of Game 6 Saturday night.
After winning in Game 5, Mavericks star Luka Doncic had some jokes for Charles Barkley over his jinx.
With the series tied 2-2, Barkley felt it was going to be an easy game for the Thunder.
"I’m expecting that place to be loud, and I’m expecting OKC to run them out of the building," Barkley said.
Doncic clearly heard Barkley's support for the Thunder before the game, and made sure to call him out for it in the postgame interview.
Read More on The US Sun
"I love that show, I love those four guys," Doncic started.
"Maybe next time he can say it again in the next game so maybe we'll win again."