The Denver Nuggets have qualified for the second round of the NBA playoffs. The best team in the main round of the Western Conference in the North American basketball league defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 112:109 (48:47) and won the best-of-seven series 4:1 after victories. Superstar Nikola Jokic became the match winner.
The Serbian center scored five points in a row at 104:104 in the final minute, and Jokic made the final score perfect on the free-throw line. With 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists, the 28-year-old made his second triple-double in the playoffs. Jokic is one of three contenders for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, the Serb has won the MVP award for the past two years.
The Nuggets meet the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the playoffs. The Suns also won their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers 4-1 after victories, with a 136-130 (61-70) home win, Phoenix made progress perfect. The Suns turned the game around in the third quarter, scoring 50 points. Devin Booker in particular delivered there: Booker scored 24 of his 47 points in that round.
Thanks to Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks prevented a playoff exit, and the Hawks reduced the series to 2:3 with a 119:117 (66:58) away win at the Boston Celtics. Young scored his team’s last 14 points, the playmaker hitting the winning three-pointer two seconds from time. Atlanta crowned the race to catch up after a twelve-point deficit with around five minutes to go.
