Watch Rudy Gobert best Nikola Jokić on both ends of the floor
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has led the charge in limiting Nuggets star Nikola Jokić to just 15-of-46 shooting over the last two games.
Missing Aaron Gordon wasn’t the only issue the Denver Nuggets had in Game 3. The Minnesota Timberwolves completely handled Denver, 113-96, Thursday, April 23, taking a 2-1 series lead over the No. 3-seeded Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Throughout the game, offense was the issue, with three starters — Cameron Johnson, Spencer Jones and Christian Braun — combining to score just 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting. It was a team effort, but Minnesota’s anchor down low, center Rudy Gobert, had a special night. Gobert was a force on defense, especially on Nuggets All-Star and Most Valuable Player finalist Nikola Jokić.
This has come on the heels of Gobert publicly expressing his displeasure that he was not named a finalist for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award, which went to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama . Jokić did end up with 27 points, but it came on an inefficient 7-of-26 (26. 9%) shooting night, including a 2-of-10 showing from 3-point range.
Gobert was a big part of that. It also means that Jokić has now gone 15-of-46 (32. 6%) over his last two games against Gobert and the Timberwolves.