Nikola Jokic Gives Candid Take on Kawhi Leonard After Nuggets’ Game 3 Loss to Clippers…
Thursday night’s matchup at the Intuit Dome was a lopsided affair, as the Denver Nuggets were crushed by the LA Clippers, 117-83, in Game 3 of their playoff series. The game marked the first-ever home playoff contest at the new arena, and the crowd showed up energized. Despite a triple-double performance from Nikola Jokic — 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists — Denver couldn’t keep up with a red-hot Clippers team that buried 18 three-pointers. The loss puts the Nuggets behind 2-1 in the series and facing another tough challenge on LA’s home floor to avoid a 3-1 hole.
Interestingly, many fans criticized the NBA’s decision to air the Thunder-Grizzlies game on TNT instead of this one. In hindsight, the decision may have been justified — at least based on the level of competition.
After the game, Jokic didn’t hold back when asked about Kawhi Leonard’s performance and reputation. He offered high praise: “He shouldn’t care what anyone thinks. He’s a champion, an exceptional talent. He’s truly one-of-a-kind. If I were him, I wouldn’t give a damn,” Jokic said.
Leonard led the Clippers with 21 points in the win, but the team’s balanced scoring — with four players putting up at least 19 points — demonstrated how deep and dangerous LA has become. With Leonard returning to form and James Harden hitting his stride, the Clippers look increasingly formidable as the series progresses.
