
Nikola Jokic drops 42-22-6 in Game 1 against Oklahoma City Thunder, then celebrates at local OKC bar
(Image Source - Getty Images)
Jokic's historic night propels Nuggets to comeback victory over Thunder
On a night that was both impressive and fun, Nikola Jokic , the star center for the Denver Nuggets , had a record-breaking game in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder . He tallied 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists—joining the ranks of just three other players in NBA playoff history to do so. Following the exciting 121-119 win, he celebrated by relaxing at a bar in Oklahoma City, much to the joy of fans and the media.The Nuggets pulled off an incredible comeback against the top-seeded Thunder, who were ahead by 14 points in the third quarter. Jokic really stepped up, especially in the second half, helping Denver outscore Oklahoma City 71-59. Even after getting a Flagrant 1 foul and racking up five personal fouls, Jokic kept his cool and scored 16 points down the stretch. Analysts were impressed, with Charles Barkley noting Jokic's lively attitude and crucial impact on boosting his team's energy.The game hit its peak when Aaron Gordon nailed a crucial three-pointer with just 2.8 seconds left, clinching the victory for Denver. This marked Gordon's second game-winning shot of the playoffs, solidifying his reputation for coming through in the clutch.Right after the game, fans caught Jokic at the Basin Bar located in the Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City. A video taken by a local fan showed the three-time MVP relaxing and enjoying his night, still wearing his game arm sleeve. The video went viral fast, with fans excited to see Jokic unwinding after his incredible game.While a few fans laughed at Jokic's laid-back attitude, others appreciated how he manages to stay calm off the court while bringing the heat on the court. One fan mentioned, "Thunder got cooked by him and celebrating in OKC bar is insane," while another added, "He's practicing for the championship parade."The Nuggets are up 1-0 in the series after this win, snatching home-court advantage from the Thunder. They'll meet again for Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT. Everyone's watching Jokic to see if he can keep up his Game 1 magic.Also Read: Draymond Green slams Dillon Brooks for leaving the court early and losing respect among NBA peers During a night that mixed incredible skills on the court with a charming personality off it, Nikola Jokic reminded everyone why he's a standout in the NBA.

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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Teams that win the championships play great defence: Payton
Mumbai: For a seventh consecutive season, the NBA will see a different champion as the Indiana Pacers compete with Oklahoma City Thunder in the seven-game Finals series, starting on Friday. The Pacers have never won the marquee basketball title in their history, while the Thunder won the 1979 season, then as the Seattle SuperSonics. For Gary Payton, the two teams with the most attractive style of play have made it to the final. Payton, the 2006 NBA champion with Miami Heat and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer explained that both teams play a defensive style. 'I would rather see a lot of defence than offence,' Payton said. 'The two teams that have reached the final, (they are there) because they play defence, they make big stops. 'I think all the time in the playoffs, the teams that win the championships are the teams that play great defence. They both play defence, they both play great. They have five guys on the floor at all times that can go at each other. This is going to be a great series, I really think it is going to go to seven games. The Pacers got to the finals for the first time since they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, after beating the New York Knicks in the Western Conference Finals. Meanwhile, Thunder reached this far by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Eastern finals. They last reached the NBA final in 2012, when they lost to Miami. The staunch defence from both teams reminds Payton of the style that was dominant during his playing days. 'In my era, we were only averaging about 85 points a game, in the 1990s. That's what it was about. And if you can do that, you win games. If you are struggling with offence, but you hold them to 68 points, you are always in that match,' said Payton, who is in Mumbai to launch the NBA House. 'I don't want to go to a game and see a team score 130 points - one player has 50 points and another has 55. I want to see somebody stop somebody. I want to see someone take accountability and take someone, who is valuable to a team, out of the game.' Defensive discipline was a specialty for Payton, who was the first point guard (a typically attacking position) to be named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, when he won the accolade in 1996. Marcus Smart in 2022 has been the only other point guard to win the award so far. 'I didn't care about scoring, I cared about stopping the best opponent. If I stopped him, that means I stopped the (opposition) - because they cannot function without him,' Payton said when asked about what kind of legacy he hoped he left behind. 'I want to be remembered as the first two-way player to play at both ends of the floor. But really, my legacy started as just being a complete basketball player, both ends of the floor. If I'm struggling with my offence, I don't worry about it and just focus on the defence and stopping the other team. That's my legacy, I don't want anything else.'


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
5 legendary NBA stars who never won a championship in their entire career
Winning an NBA championship is every basketball player's dream, but not all get the chance to experience how lifting the trophy feels. Despite their fabulous numbers on the court, a number of legendary NBA stars said goodbye to the game without winning the championship even once. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They saw success as MVP, or All-Star team selection, but the ring remained away of their reach. Here are some of the exemplary players whose dream of owning a ring remained a dream forever. Charles Barkley has 10 NBA All-Star selections but no ring Charles Barkley spent 16 glorious years as an NBA player, but he never once won the championship, a void that remains unfilled to date. The 10-time NBA All-Star garnered a massive fan following owing to his exceptional skills and command on the court. Known for being shorter than a usual power forward, he made up for the deficit with his charismatic presence, empowered by his strength and aggressive approach. Charles was drafted in the 1984 NBA as the fifth pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, and had no looking back after that. He went on to become the All-Star Game MVP in 1991 and 1993, proving he was the best among the best. Also, he was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Apart from these achievements, he proudly represented the team USA in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. What Are Charles Barkley's Achievements? - The Basketball Xpert Charles is now an NBA analyst and had a fabulous run on TV with the show Inside the NBA, which he co-hosted with other legends of the game. John Stockton played 19 NBA seasons but never won a championship John Stockton's NBA career spanned over 19 seasons starting from 1984 to 2003. He played only for the Utah Jazz during his entire career. The 10-time NBA All-Star has several NBA records to his credit, most prominent being the highest number of assists and steals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A two-time Hall of Fame inductee also represented the USA team in the 1992 Olympics for the basketball game. He appeared on the list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996. The 1994-95 season was the breakthrough year of the NBA legend when he surpassed Magic Johnson's record with 16 assists, orchestrating a 129-98 win over the Denver Nuggets. Despite all the achievements, he could not wind up his career with a ring to his credit. Reggie Miller carved exemplary career in NBA, but could not achieve his championship dream Reggie Miller cut the competition with his precise three-point shooting, which earned him a place among the most respected players. Known for his killing performances against the New York Knicks, he got the nickname, Knick Killer. Though the NBA legend spent 18 remarkable years filled with memorable moments, his list of achievements did not include the title. One of the key moments of Miller's career was the 'choke gesture' which he did to diehard Knicks fan, Spike Lee, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It went on to become the iconic moment of the NBA. Miller's list of notable achievements in his NBA career includes a five-time All-Star selection, induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, and selection in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Karl Malone made mark as NBA player but missed winning championship Karl Malone, nicknamed the Mailman, was one of the dynamic duo that he formed with John Stockton while playing for the Utah Jazz. He played NBA from 1985 to 2003, creating a formidable legacy of 18 years in the NBA. Malone led the NBA by being the second-highest achiever of first-team All-NBA selections. He tied the score for All-NBA selections with Kobe Bryant. He accumulated 36,928 career points in his 18-season association with the NBA. The Utah Jazz picked him in the 1985 draft as the 13th overall pick. His key achievements, apart from the first-team All-NBA selection, include NBA MVP awards in 1997 and 1999, 14-time All-Star selections, 2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, and a few others. Steve Nash won no NBA championship title in his 18-season career The 2018 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Nash, played NBA games for 18 seasons. However, his list of achievements lacked the most coveted NBA championship title. Steve grew up playing multiple sports and enjoyed a successful basketball career during his years at British Columbia. The Phoenix Suns drafted him into the NBA in 1996. His breakthrough year was his fourth year in the NBA when he was voted NBA All-Star Game and All-NBA for the first time. Steve Nash's key achievements include 2x-NBA Most Valuable Player (2005,2006), 8-time NBA All-Star, and so on. He also appeared on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Also Read: It is sometimes the weakening stamina and lack of opportunities that cause basketball players to relinquish their championship dream. Even without a ring, these players have left behind a powerful legacy that makes their names indelible in NBA fans' memories.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'It's always been us against everyone' -Indiana Pacers' star player gives cryptic reply to haters ahead of NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers' All-Star power forward player, Pascal Siakam gave a cryptic reply to all the haters, stating that it's always been everyone against the team. The Pacers have shown great resilience this year, and have reached the finals after defeating the New York Knicks with an amazing 125-108 score in the Game 6. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Indiana Pacers are set to face Oklahoma City Thunder who have proceeded to become fan favorites this season. However, as the NBA finals approach near, fans and experts are choosing their sides, with majority siding towards Thunder to win the NBA Championship. Pascal Siakam replies to haters and non-supporters before NBA Finals On Wednesday, June 5, a media interview was kept for the Indiana Pacers which was attended by players like Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith. When they were asked about their thoughts on fans and critics picking Thunder over the Pacers, the Pacers' forward gave a cryptic reply. "I don't think we expect anyone to pick us. It's been that way the whole playoffs, the whole season. I think nothing for us changes. We just continue to be ourselves, focus on us. It's always been us against everyone." Indiana Pacers post Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith's statement from Media day ahead of NBA Finals (Image Source: Indiana Pacers via X) His statement clearly shows that the entire team knows what fans out there think about them, and that they expect the Pacers to fail. However, the Indiana Pacers have been able to survive the playoffs and reach the finals despite all hurdles. To add on to the statement, Aaron Nesmith, the Indiana Pacers' starting forward said, "We enjoy being the underdogs. We've been the underdogs since I've gotten here for the last three years. Every game in the playoffs, it felt like nobody wanted us to win. We're here and nothing's new. We're going to attack it with the same mindset." The Indiana Pacers made it to the NBA finals after 25 long years, and the fandom is showing immense support. On the other hand, the OKC Thunder are appearing on the NBA finals straight after 2012. Both teams have enough reasons and strong players to win the match, but who will take the trophy? While majority are favoring the Thunder to win, history has been proof that it's always the unexpected underdogs who take the last call. Will the Pacers defeat Thunder? The results are yet to arrive. Also Read: