Jokic triple-double saves Nuggets
Jokic triple-double keeps Nuggets alive in Game 5
Nikola Jokic produced a triple-double—27 points, 12 rebounds, and 16 assists—to lift the Denver Nuggets to a 125-113 Game 5 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, staving off elimination and trimming the series to 3-2.
The context mattered. Denver entered the game with the season on the line after falling behind in the first-round series, and the Nuggets needed a full-team response rather than a single scoring burst. Jokic delivered that across the stat sheet, creating offense through both shot-making and playmaking while also grabbing rebounds to limit Minnesota’s transition opportunities.
Denver’s victory also came amid injury-related complications. Aaron Gordon was ruled out for Game 5 with a calf issue, and other absences were part of the broader storyline of the matchup. Even without a key contributor, the Nuggets managed to control enough possessions to win, then pushed back Minnesota’s urgency in the second half.
The turnaround reinforced Denver’s postseason identity: when they’re stretched, they can still find high-leverage offensive sets through Jokic, and they can force a nervous opponent to chase every second-chance opportunity.
What it sets up
- Minnesota now has to respond in the series again after failing to finish
- Denver will look for continuity without Gordon, leaning further into their remaining rotation
- Jokic’s ability to deliver triple-double production in a do-or-die setting is likely to remain the central matchup factor going forward
With the series now alive, Game 6 becomes the next critical moment—both for Denver’s belief and for Minnesota’s ability to close.