Nikola Jokic, who is in charge of some Denver Nuggets already caressing the ring, emphasized this Friday that his team hasn’t stopped pushing the gas during the series against the Miami Heat.
“There is one more win to go. We need one more. What I like is that we don’t relax. We didn’t feel comfortable. We still play desperately, we still want it. That’s what makes me happy: that we don’t relax,” he said at a press conference.
The Serbian center also assured that in the fifth game they will play “as if it were the first of the series”.
The Nuggets were just one win away from entering the first NBA ring in their history this Friday after beating the Heat again in Miami (95-108, 1-3 in the series).
Aaron Gordon (27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists), Nikola Jokic (23 points and 12 rebounds), Jamal Murray (15 points and 12 assists), and Bruce Brown (21 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter) were the most Highlights of some Nuggets who have the opportunity to close the Final in Denver on Monday.
Only one of the 36 times there was a 3-1 in the Finals was there a comeback from the team that was ranked lower (that feat was signed by LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 against the Golden State Warriors).
Jokic applauded the “incredible night” of a Brown who has been “very aggressive” in recent times and highlighted the maturity of a Gordon who has managed to adjust to a “different role” in the Nuggets after landing in Denver.
“That’s why he sacrificed himself and that’s why he’s a great teammate. And thanks to him we won today,” he said.
“I think if you sacrifice yourself for something bigger than yourself (…), I think that’s why the one above is giving you this game today. He was our best player on the field. Plus, he’s defending his best player (Jimmy Butler) every night and he’s kind of tough and might not get much credit for that. But we know what he does for the team, we are very grateful and we appreciate him a lot.”
Asked about the big sporting moment in Serbia as Novak Djokovic plays the Roland Garros final next Sunday, Jokic revealed that the tennis player had texted him, as he promised to do a few days ago.
“Obviously he’s incredible at his sport and he’s making history all the time. It’s probably going to end up as one of the best, if not the best. He has a good chance of winning another (Grand Slam),” he said.
“To have him as a compatriot representing us in the world is a great honor for me and I think the people of Serbia are very happy to have him as a compatriot,” he said.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
