It was an epic moment during the Nuggets-Timberwolves game when Nikola Jokic threw down a monster dunk that got everyone in the arena on their feet. But perhaps the most entertaining reaction came from the Nuggets’ bench.
As soon as Jokic took flight and slammed the ball through the hoop with authority, the bench erupted in a chorus of cheers, high-fives, and even some playful chest bumps. It was clear that they were just as impressed with the big man’s athleticism as the fans in the stands.
The energy that came from the bench was infectious, and it seemed to fuel the Nuggets’ momentum for the rest of the game. With the support of their teammates and coaches, Jokic and the rest of the team went on to secure a convincing victory over the Timberwolves.
Jokic finished the first half with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block while shooting 9/15 from the field and 0/2 from the three-point range in 21 minutes of playing time (the Nuggets led 64-49).
The Nuggets trail the Timberwolves 2-1 in the series, but they are coming off a 117-90 victory in Game 3 (also at the Target Center).
Jokic finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and three blocks while shooting 10/18 from the field and 1/3 from the three-point range in 38 minutes of playing time.
The Nuggets are the second seed in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record.
Game 5 of the series will be on Tuesday evening when the teams return to Denver.
Whoever wins the series will advance to the Western Conference Finals and face off against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Dallas Mavericks.
In the end, it was a moment that perfectly captured the team spirit that makes basketball such a special sport. The bench reaction to Jokic’s dunk was a reminder that no matter how talented an individual player may be, it takes a team effort to achieve success on the court. And in that moment, the Nuggets’ bench showed that they were all in this together, celebrating each other’s accomplishments and pushing each other to be the best they can be.
Flip to the next page to watch Nikola Jokic’s dunk…
