The Denver Nuggets made it to the second round after a tight win over San Antonio in Game 7 and Nikola Jokic posted another monstrous display. Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam led the Toronto Raptors to a comfortable victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1, while Magic Johnson is impressed with NBA superstars and their playoff performances so far.
Joker continues to impress
Nikola Jokic helped the Denver Nuggets defeat the San Antonio Spurs and reach Round 2, where they will meet the Portland Trail Blazers. The Joker recorded a triple-double of 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming only the third player, alongside Magic Johnson and LeBron James, in NBA history to record multiple triple-doubles in their first career playoffs.
Nikola Jokic (21 PTS, 15 REB, 10 AST) notches the GAME 7 triple-double and joins LeBron James and Magic Johnson as the only players in @NBAHistory to record multiple triple-doubles in their first career #NBAPlayoffs! #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/NveMFzGs3S
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2019
Leonard explodes for 45 points
The Toronto Raptors successfully opened its Round 2 series with the Philadelphia 76ers with a convincing 108-95 home win thanks to Kawhi Leonard, who scored a playoff-career-high 45 points and also added a team-high 11 rebounds in the victory.
🖐️ @kawhileonard propels the @Raptors in Game 1 with a #NBAPlayoffs career-high 45 PTS! #WeTheNorth
Game 2: Monday (4/29), 8pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/C2Vn2cATmJ
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2019
Malone on Jokic
Denver Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone was excited after his team secured a place in the second round of the NBA Playoffs and he expressed how important Nikola Jokic is as he speaks on his leadership and greatness.
"Like he [Nikola] always says, it's just basketball…"
Coach Malone speaks on Nikola Jokic's poise, leadership, and greatness after Game 7! #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/1umbRvSARg
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2019
Popovich on Spurs’ defeat
The San Antonio Spurs wereknocked out of the NBA playoffs by Denver Nuggets and head coach Gregg Popovich had some interesting comments during the post-game conference. He said that it is too early to compare Nikola Jokic to Tim Duncan, but stressed that the Serbian international is a magnificent player. As usual, Pop wasn’t in the mood to answer to tricky questions from journalists but even in this hard moment for his team, he found enough strength to make jokes.
Hear from Gregg Popovich after Spurs fall to Nuggets in Game 7 https://t.co/7MJE4MYhN5
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 28, 2019
Magic is impressed with NBA superstars
Magic Johnson, who recently stepped down from his position as Los Angeles Lakers’ president, had high praise for NBA superstars such as Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard and said that they are impressing in the playoffs.
NBA Playoff stars are playing like superstars! Damian Lillard Tuesday, Kevin Durant last night, and Kawhi Leonard today. The NBA Playoffs are a must see!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 28, 2019
