After being humiliated at home, the defending champion Denver Nuggets bounced back on the road behind the play of reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets cruised to a 117-90, 27-point victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the best-of-seven 2023-2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference semifinals at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday. After dropping Games 1 and 2 at home, Denver turned the tide with its first win on the road to even the series at two games apiece. 토토사이트 Game 4 will be played on Nov. 13 at the same venue.
After a slower-than-expected performance in Games 1 and 2, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic bounced back with a 24-point, 14-rebound, nine-assist, three-steal, three-block performance. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Jermale Murray’s 24 points and five assists and Michael Porter Jr.’s 21 points. Minnesota was led by Anthony Edwards’ 19 points.
Denver, which took control midway through the first quarter and led 28-20 at the break, finished the half up 56-41 and then scored 37 points in the third quarter to pull away. Led by Jokic’s 13 points in the third quarter alone, the Nuggets extended their lead to 93-66 at the end of the quarter, effectively sealing the game.
In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Indiana Pacers bounced back from dropping Games 1 and 2 to the New York Knicks with a 111-106 home win in Game 3 to take the series.
The game was highlighted by a three-point showdown in the closing minutes. With Indiana leading 106-103, the Knicks’ Jaylen Brunson hit a three-pointer with 42.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 106-106. But with 17.1 seconds left in regulation, Indiana’s Andrew Nemhard’s step-back 3-pointer from long range rattled off the rim to give the Pacers a 109-106 lead. The Knicks then forced Bruns to miss a 3-point attempt, and Indiana’s Aaron Nismith added two free throws with 9.1 seconds left in regulation.
Indiana was led by Tyreese Halliburton’s 35 points and seven assists, including six 3-pointers, and Pascal Siakam’s 26 points and seven rebounds. New York was led by Donte DiVincenzo’s 35 points, including seven 3-pointers, and Jaylen Brunson’s 26 points and six assists.