The G5 battle between the Nuggets and the Warriors is obviously a first-round showdown without much suspense.
After entering the playoffs, the Warriors have twisted into a rope and become a real powerhouse, while the Nuggets only have one pawn, and the hole in the guard line makes it impossible for them to compete head-on with the three guards. But even so, Jokic fought to the last moment, shooting his last bullet.
Curry returned to the starting lineup, but Kerr was also unwilling to discourage Poole's recent enthusiasm, and he simply started the game with the death five, sending Curry, Poole, Thompson, Wiggins and Green to the magical lineup. The Warriors had the upper hand, but the Nuggets quickly adjusted to the rhythm and the two sides began to enter a normal fight.
Death Five Small Lineup, although the attack is sharp, but after all, it is too small, and it may be caught at any time to break the inside line. Therefore, the use of this lineup can not be too long, otherwise the rapid running, rapid projection, sometimes not only can not kill the opponent, but may be exhausted by themselves.
The Nuggets played a more eye-catching offense in the third quarter, and Jokic, as the pillar of the interior, became a nightmare for the Warriors. Cole quickly adjusted his tactics and tightened the restrictions on The Teacher. However, After all, Mr. Yo is a superstar at the MVP level, and all kinds of hits and passes have benefited his teammates. And substitute Wizards Cousins played a heroic role in this battle, making baskets on the inside and shooting on the outside, helping the Nuggets take an 8-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
However, the Warriors were surprisingly quiet in the first three quarters, with Curry, Thompson and Poole playing mediocre, which also made the Nuggets have to face a huge challenge in the final quarter. Sure enough, the Warriors' absolute superstar was always Curry. Curry's various breakthroughs in the final quarter attracted the defense and completely disrupted the Nuggets' defense.
Faced with Curry's agile breakthrough, the Nuggets had to pack the defense, and Curry's teammates began to get opportunities. Payton Jr. became the Warriors' key killer and the reverse soldier. In fact, in the last 4 minutes, the Nuggets were already obviously weak, and Jokic, with a hamstring injury, was still stubbornly persevering. Jokic kept throwing, hooking, and laying inside, scoring 12 points in 4 minutes, always nibbling on his breath.
Unfortunately, Curry didn't give him a chance, and the Warriors no longer need to prepare for the G6. The Nuggets lost, but Jokic lost standing. In this game, he played 32 minutes, shooting 12-of-18 and 0-of-2 from three-point range, with 30 points, 19 boards, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 6 turnovers. If it weren't for injuries, he would have been well positioned to blast down the 30+20 triple-double stats.
Speaking about Jokic's performance, Nuggets coach Malone praised, "Before tonight's game, his hamstring was very tight, but he still walked on the field with an injury. The last few games have left him exhausted, but he survived, overcame all the difficulties and he was a true warrior. ”