Nikola Jokic Posts 27, 16 to Keep Nuggets Alive in Game 5
nikola jokic kept Denver alive with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists in Game 5, and the Nuggets used that line to avoid an early first-round exit against Minnesota. Kendrick Perkins then put the pressure squarely on Jokic before Game 6, saying the standard should rise if Denver is going to keep moving.
Jokic’s Game 5 line
Jokic scored 27 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and filled the box score with 12 rebounds and 16 assists. Denver needed every bit of it after falling into a 3-1 hole in the series.
The win stopped the Timberwolves from finishing the job early. For Denver, it also turned Game 6 from a survival spot into the next test of whether Jokic can carry the series one more step.
Perkins raises the bar
Perkins discussed Jokic on the Road Trippin Show and said, “The energy, the rivalry, the pettiness, the… They got real hate for one another. And I'mma say this. Everybody, “Oh man, can Minnesota win a game?” Perkins said. “The pressure's on them in Game 6. To be honest with you, the pressure is on Jokic. The pressure is on Jokic.”
He added, “Why are we not keeping the same energy when it comes to Jokic?” and said, “If we're going to be fair, the same criticism we would give Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, we have to keep that same energy when it comes to Jokic.” Perkins also said, “I said he's knocking at the door. He's not there just yet,” and, “If Jokic loses this series, I think we've got to come back and have another conversation.”
What Game 6 carries
The pressure point is simple: Denver already escaped one elimination game, and Jokic’s resume now sits under the same spotlight Perkins applies to LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Jokic owns one championship, one Finals MVP and three MVPs, but Perkins still wants more before placing him fully among the all-time standard he is describing.
Perkins also said he has picked the Timberwolves to win the series, while admitting he wants a Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio Spurs matchup in the second round. For Denver, though, the only thing that matters is Game 6 against Minnesota, where another loss would bring the series to an end.
