Nikola Jokic’s Playoff Numbers Highlight His Individual Brilliance Despite Tight Series…
The Denver Nuggets claimed a 3-2 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers in their first-round NBA Playoff series with a Game 5 victory. While some may view this result as surprising—especially given Denver’s recent turbulence—the performance of Nikola Jokic continues to stand out.
Just before the regular season concluded, the Nuggets made headlines by firing both their championship-winning head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. Despite the internal shake-up, Denver now sits just one win away from reaching the second round.
Jokic, the team’s centerpiece, had largely carried the team through the early games of the series. But in Game 5, he got major support from Jamal Murray, who exploded for 43 points. Critics may point to Jokic’s modest 13-point outing, yet he recorded a triple-double—something that has become routine for the two-time MVP.
According to StatMuse, Jokic ranks first in rebounds, assists, double-doubles, and triple-doubles in the 2020s, and second in scoring—underscoring his all-around dominance. A key trait that sets Jokic apart is his basketball IQ—not just his passing vision, but his willingness to defer when a teammate is in rhythm. His statistics come organically, as part of the team’s flow, not from stat-chasing.
Denver will look to close out the series Thursday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
