The Denver Nuggets crushed the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets won 125-100 on the road to reach their first conference finals since 2020.
Nikola Jokic registered another triple-double, prompting Phoenix Suns star, Kevin Durant to say the Serbian would go down as one of the best centers of all time.
Nikola Jokic is arguably the best center in the NBA. Photos by Christian Petersen and Garrett Ellwood/NBAE.Source: Getty Images
Jokic finished with 32 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and three steals in his fifth triple-double of the postseason. No player in this season’s playoffs has more than one.
He averaged 34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 10.3 assists against the Suns.
The 28-year-old now has the most triple-doubles of any center in NBA playoffs history, ahead of Wilt Chamberlain (9). The two-time MVP is now tied with Jason Kidd (11) for the fourth-most ever. Only Russell Westbrook (12), LeBron James (28), and Magic Johnson (30) have more, per ESPN.
The Nuggets had an 81-51 lead after the first half, their largest halftime lead in the playoffs in franchise history. Their 81 points are also the most scored in a first half by a road team in playoff history, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Durant commends Jokic after playoffs
Despite the embarrassing defeat, Durant was quick to shower the Nuggets superstar with praise.
“Jokic is an all-time great. He’ll go down as one of the all-time great centers to ever touch a basketball. He went out there and did what he was supposed to do,” Durant said in his postgame, via Sporting News.
"I always knew how great he was…I wasn't surprised at all…he'll go down as one of the all-time great centers that ever touched a basketball"
Kevin Durant on Nikola Jokic pic.twitter.com/vmwqNL53Cw
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 12, 2023
The Serbian big man was unstoppable in the first half. He had 20 points, seven assists, and six rebounds on 10-of-12 shooting. Durant and Devin Booker could simply not keep up with Jokic.
Nikola Jokic averaged a 30-point triple-double in the Western Conference Semifinals 😱
34.5 PTS
13.2 REB
10.3 ASTSensational. pic.twitter.com/Xr1GpO5wQb
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2023
The two-time NBA champion finished with 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting in Game 6. Booker, who was having a terrific series, had only 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting, per ESPN.
Durant reacts to Suns playoff exit
Sports Brief earlier reported on Durant describing the Suns’ playoff exit as an embarrassment.
The Phoenix team exited the postseason in humiliating fashion for the second straight season.
Last season, the Suns lost in round twothe second round to the Dallas Mavericks and were down 30 at halftime, just like in Game 6 against the Nuggets.
