“James Harden Leads Philadelphia to Victory, Nikola Jokic Dominates in Nuggets Win”

Lhe 33-year-old “Beard” (bearded man) has shown that he has lost nothing of his left paw. He assumed his leadership role in the absence of other Sixers star center Joel Embiid.

We have to go back two years to see him exceed the bar of forty units (41, already in Boston with Brooklyn), which he had achieved eight times between 2015 and 2019 with Houston. With a remarkable address (17/30), he planted the fatal banderilla at long distance eight seconds from the end to definitively put the 76ers in the lead (115-117).

Nikola Jokic has, without rhinestones or sequins, delivered a new masterclass. The Serbian pivot from Denver, double MVP in title, planted 39 points (17/30), recovered 16 rebounds, gave 5 assists, had 2 interceptions and a block against Phoenix and the Nuggets won 97-87 to now lead 2 zero wins in their Western Conference semifinals. It was not useless because Jamal Murray (3/15, 10 pts) and Michael Porter (2/7, 5 pts) were not in the game. Denver’s defense limited the Suns’ long-range pointers to a mediocre 6/31 and 38/95 overall shooting, did the rest of the work. Kevin Durant (10/27 including 2/12 to 3 pts) was limited to 24 points, Devin Booker’s 35 points could not make up for the 4 points (2/14) scored in 1h11 of play by the six Suns substitutes.