The Timberwolves beat the Nuggets 106-99 to take a 1-0 lead. The Nuggets' loss of a win at home has a huge impact on the promotion situation, and Malone has said that he fears being eliminated by the Timberwolves. In this game, Anthony Edwards' playing point made the Nuggets unable to restrict, Edwards' mid-range focus Jokic couldn't defend it, and Jokic's most difficult thing to limit was the free throw line's mid-range and throwing.
Nikola Jokic's 7 turnovers after the game are still on the No. 1 hot search in the United States, and Jokic, as one of the most consistent players in the league, has lost so many games in a key game that many media outlets can't bear it.
Jokic made consecutive mistakes in the final five minutes against the Timberwolves, missing shots at 3:52, turnovers at 2:58, three-pointers at 2:38, three-pointers at 1:28, and fouls at 38 seconds. And the last three-point shot was 1+2 turnovers in 4.
Jokic played 41 minutes, 11-of-25, 2-of-9 three-pointers, 8-of-8 free throws, 32 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 7 turnovers, shooting 44% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range. Jokic played very poorly with efficiency, and it looks like the three-tower plot of Towns, Gobert, and Reed is not without effect.
Jokic has seven turnovers in two straight playoff games, also the first time in his career.
Jokic averaged just 4.3 assists per game against the Timberwolves during the regular season this season, the fewest of any of the 29 teams.
In this playoffs, Jokic shot less than 50% in none of the five games in the first round, and only 44% against the Timberwolves' three-tower lineup.
Text/Yan Xiaobai