Because the defending NBA Champions, league media had quite a bit to say when the Nuggets misplaced the primary two video games vs. Minnesota. The Timberwolves gained each video games in Denver and momentum was on their aspect. Shifting ahead, the Nuggets wanted to play their greatest model of basketball to get again into the sequence. They’ve carried out simply that.
Denver gained the final three video games in a row to take a 3-2 sequence lead after a 112-97 win on Tuesday evening. Earlier this sequence, Timberwolves heart Rudy Gobert was given his third Defensive Participant of the Yr Award. Regardless of that honor, Gobert’s protection has been in query this sequence vs. the Nuggets. Notably when he’s guarding Nikola Jokic. Draymond Inexperienced crammed in on Contained in the NBA on TNT final evening and voiced his frustrations with Rudy Gobert’s poor protection.
Draymond Inexperienced didn’t maintain again when calling out Rudy Gobert on his defensive effort vs. Nikola Jokic
“The large Frenchman is sitting on that podium talking his native language. We, we, we have to do that. You, you, you have to get a cease… It’s you, my man, that’s getting cooked [by Nikola Jokic].”
Draymond Inexperienced sounded OFF on Rudy Gobert 👀pic.twitter.com/S96Zd862NA
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) Could 15, 2024
Sport 6 on Thursday evening will probably be telling for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Residence-court benefit often issues within the playoffs however that’s been thrown out the window this sequence. On Tuesday evening, Denver was again at residence for Sport 5 the place they took care of enterprise vs. the Timberwolves. Denver now has a 3-2 sequence lead and will clinch a spot within the Convention Finals with a win in Sport 6. Nevertheless, Minnesota’s season is on the road and you recognize they’re going to come out with their greatest stuff.
After a loss in Sport 5, Draymond Inexperienced known as out Rudy Gobert for his protection vs Nikola Jokic. Inexperienced mentioned that Gobert is getting “cooked” by Jokic on this sequence. He mentioned his teammate Karl-Anthony Cities is enjoying higher protection vs. Jokic. In Sport 5, Jokic had 40 factors, seven rebounds, and 13 assists. He additionally had one block and two steals. Rudy Gobert is meant to make it arduous for Jokic and he didn’t try this on Tuesday evening. Momentum has swung again to the Nuggets they usually may shut out the sequence on Thursday.
.@jj_redick and @Rjeff24 react to the followers who’re blaming Rudy Gobert for Nikola Jokić’s unbelievable efficiency final evening.
Full dialog from their reside this morning: https://t.co/DquQlRykY8 pic.twitter.com/pBKLwivNXF
— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) Could 15, 2024
On his podcast, JJ Redick known as out all of the followers who suppose all of the blame ought to be on Rudy Gobert for not stopping Nikola Jokic. Redick talked about how Jokic is certainly one of, if not probably the most expert gamers within the league. Jokic’s footwork, basketball IQ, and motor make him one of many hardest gamers to protect. Rudy Gobert is just doing what he can to cease Jokic and it may not be sufficient. Will the Timberwolves reply Thursday at residence with their season on the road?