DENVER — Nikola Jokic claimed he did not have a strategy in mind to combat Anthony Davis. But it did not take long in Tuesday night's Game 1 for the Los Angeles Lakers to see Jokic's blueprint.
The Denver Nuggets' superstar came out extremely aggressive, reintroducing himself to LeBron James and Davis on the Western Conference finals stage, but this time as a two-time MVP at the top of his game.
Jokic compiled his third straight triple-double this postseason by the third quarter, and finished with 34 points, 21 rebounds, 14 assists and two blocks to help the Nuggets take a 132-126 win at Ball Arena. «He makes it [look] really simple,» Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said of Jokic taking whatever a defense gives him. "[But also] he makes it look miraculous at the same time.
It's like ridiculous." Jokic was a force, especially on the glass, where he had six offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone.