As Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets get prepared for Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a key matchup to keep an eye on is the battle of bigs.
Nikola Jokic versus Rudy Gobert has been lopsided.
The former MVP for the Nuggets is an offensive juggernaut, while Gobert has been one of the best defenders in the league since his Utah Jazz days.
In two out of three games, defense is winning the series. Despite Gobert’s high level of success through the first few games, he makes two things clear: Jokic remains a ridiculously good offensive player, and the Timberwolves’ success is not individual.
The standout center credited his team for helping.
Rudy Gobert Sends Clear Message On Nikola Jokic Battle Before Game 4
“I’m just trying to compete. He’s the greatest offensive player I’ve guarded my whole career. Just trying to enjoy the challenge and make him work as much as I can,” Gobert said during his postgame presser after Game 3.
“It’s also a team effort. My teammates tonight did a great job. … Everyone in the game gave us something defensively. I just have to keep working. Keep competing and keep trying to make him earn everything he gets. That’s the biggest thing.”
After an impressive triple-double in Game 1, where the Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 116-105, Gobert helped hold Jokic to just 8-20 shooting from the field in Game 2. Typically a successful three-point scorer, Jokic had just one shot from deep go through over seven attempts.
In Game 3, Jokic had a very rare off-night in the efficiency department. He scored his series-high of 27 points, but he did it on 26 shots. Jokic made just 26.9% of his shots from the field.
Over three playoff games, Jokic is posting averages of 25.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.
The Nuggets will be looking to even the series in Game 4 on Saturday night. The game tips off at 8:30 PM ET.