Nikola Jokic is human

Big game in Memphis. Playoff match between the two best teams to date in the Western Conference and which closed with a unquestionable triumph of the Grizzlies (112-94) over Denver. The Nuggets did not have any opportunity to win a game in which they lost by 24 points in the first half (the maximum deficit was 35 in the third quarter, 87-53) and which closed at halftime with 66- 42 in favor of the locals. Memphis dominated all the quarters by eight or more points, with the exception of the last one, when everything was decided and the visitors made up the final result a bit with a partial of 18-32.

“They just played more physically than we did. They treated the game like a playoff duel. We did not do it. we left listless. They got a good lead and we couldn’t recover,” said Jeff Green, power forward for a Nuggets who remain solid leaders in the West with a 42-19 record and five games ahead of the second, his rival tonight.

Denver gone bad. Very bad against an opponent who had six players with ten or more points: Ja Morant was the top scorer with 23. Santi Aldama had 5 points and 6 rebounds in 23 minutes on the field. The Grizzlies got 19 points after rival loss and dominated in the paint with 60 points. The Nuggets, as we said, died in the first 24 minutes with a 38% accuracy rate on the shot and only 3 of 16 from 3-point range.

A poor performance that affected all Colorado players. Among them, a very human Nikola Jokic. The Serbian center had 15 points and 13 rebounds. A lot in sight, little for the two-time NBA MVP. Murray didn’t do a good job either with only 8 goals. Bad day in one of the most important squares in the West.