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Nikola Jokic says he has been "average" against the Timberwoles.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic critiqued his “average” performance in the playoffs so far against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jokic and the Nuggets lost 112-96 in Game 4 on the road against the Timberwolves, who have taken a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. He was also involved in a late-game skirmish with Timberwolves swingman Jaden McDaniels after his rival broke an unwritten rule about scoring late in a game that was essentially over.

Following the game, reporters asked Jokic to critique his own performance against the Timberwolves, and he was blunt in his assessment.

“Average,” Jokic said of his performance in the playoffs thus far, further explaining why he hasn’t played better.

“Like I said, it’s a little bit of everything. I’m not shooting the ball really well, especially from the 3. Rudy (Gobert) is doing a good job with being physical, testing officials, contesting shots. He’s a really good defender, and not just him, they play really good, like I said, They’re big, long, tall, handsy, tricky, they’re bumping you. So, I think that’s the answer.”

Nikola Jokic Expects Greatness Every Night

Jokic is a three-time NBA MVP for a reason. He is one of the best basketball players in the world, if not of all time, so he expects greatness every time he steps on the court. So far in the playoffs, here are his stat lines for the first four games of the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves series.

• Game 1: 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, 0 blocks, 1 steal, 5 turnovers, .579/.286/1.000 shooting
• Game 2: 24 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, 0 steals, 3 turnovers, .400/.143/1.000 shooting
• Game 3: 27 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 blocks, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, .269/.200/1.000 shooting
• Game 4: 24 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 block, 3 steals, 4 turnovers, .346/.000/1.000 shooting

For most players, these numbers would be exceptional. But when you’re Jokic, he knows he can do better.

This season, Jokic averaged 27.7 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game, 10.7 assists per game, 0.8 blocks per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 3.7 turnovers per game, on .569/.380/.831 shooting in 65 games.

When comparing Jokic’s regular-season numbers to his playoff numbers thus far, Jokic is averaging fewer points, fewer assists, slightly fewer blocks, slightly fewer steals, and more turnovers, while shooting worse from the field and from the 3-point line. He is averaging more rebounds per game, which is a positive, and he hasn’t missed a free throw yet. But overall, he knows he has to play better for the Nuggets if they are going to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

Jokic, Nuggets on Brink

Jokic and the Nuggets are down big right now in this series against the Timberwolves, who beat the Nuggets 4-3 the last time these two teams met in the playoffs, which was during the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals. These two squads also met in the 2023 Western Conference First Round, with the Nuggets prevailing 4-1, and eventually going on to win the NBA Championship. In the past, the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets 4-1 in the 2004 Western Conference First Round.

Through the first four games of this playoff series, this Timberwolves squad appears to be the better team, though injuries could play a big factor in how the remainder of this series plays out. Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles’ tendon in Game 4, and he will be out for the remainder of the playoffs, plus most of next season, recovering from it. Anthony Edwards, too, was injured in Game 4, hurting his knee. He is now day-to-day ahead of Game 5. If the Nuggets have any chance of coming back in the series, Edwards’s absence certainly helps them, but they still need to play much better basketball, and that starts with Jokic.