By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following a frustrating Thursday night at Target Center, Nikola Jokic didn’t want to dwell on the history books. Despite being established alongside the Denver Nuggets as a comeback king in the Playoffs, he is focused solely on the present after his side dropped Game 3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, falling into a 2-1 hole in a best-of-seven series of the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
When asked about his experience navigating postseason deficits, the Joker admitted his mind was elsewhere. “To be honest, I don’t remember,” he said. “I remember we came back multiple times in the Playoffs. It’s about the most important being the next one. You’ve got to win the next one, and then we’re going to think about the future. The next one is really important for us. We got to go out there with urgency, and play much better.”
The urgency Jokic called for was noticeably absent during a disastrous opening frame where Denver managed just 11 points, allowing Minnesota to lead wire-to-wire. The Wolves’ length, anchored by French starting center Rudy Gobert, turned the three-time season MVP and former champion into a volume shooter. The Serbian superstar finished with a game-high 27 points, but struggled through a 7-of-26 shooting performance.
“They are big, tall, long. They are really good defensive players. So, they are making you shoot over them or just make you think about it,” the 31-year-old Sombor native described the opposing defensive frontline. “Especially in the first quarter, we couldn’t make a shot. And when you open the game like that, then the easy ones are not going to go either.”
Beyond the half-court struggles, the team coached by David Adelman was punished on the open floor. Minnesota’s transition game kept Denver on its heels throughout the night, a schematic shift Jokic has noticed as the series progresses. “You can see after Game 1, even in Game 2, they decided to push the pace, playing faster,” he mentioned.
The shooting woes weren’t isolated to him, but Jokic acknowledged that finding his rhythm is the catalyst for the rest of the roster. “It’s definitely going to help us, the whole team. So, yes, it’s important,” he said of finding his touch again. “It’s frustrating.”
The Nuggets now face a pivotal Game 4 on Sunday, where they must find a way to solve the puzzle of the Minnesota defense or face a daunting 3-1 deficit.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 1-1 (101-112, 98-83)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 2-1 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 1-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 1-1 (123-91, 97-111)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 2-0 (119-84, 120-107)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 2-0 (107-98, 101-94)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-2 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 1-1 (111-98, 103-106)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions