As Sunday’s Recreation 4 approached, the Denver Nuggets held a 2-1 edge over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention Semifinals.
Denver secured wins in Video games 1 and three, whereas Oklahoma Metropolis erupted in Recreation 2, handing the Nuggets a surprising 43-point loss.
By means of all of it, Nikola Jokic has been productive with 79 factors, 46 rebounds, and 18 assists throughout the sequence thus far.
Regardless of these numbers, Jokic has confronted challenges. The Serbian middle dedicated 21 turnovers and struggled mightily within the blowout loss, taking pictures simply 8-for-25 from the sector.
Seeking to flip the web page earlier than Recreation 4, Jokic arrived sporting a model new haircut, probably signaling his want to reset and refocus.
“Nikola Jokić acquired a haircut,” Nuggets reporter Katy Winge famous.
Nikola Jokić acquired a haircut pic.twitter.com/4ijkDZ98A9
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) Could 11, 2025
This model change follows an consideration grabbing outfit earlier than Recreation 3, when Jokic totally embraced his “Joker” nickname.
For Recreation 4, he opted for a unique strategy, trimming not solely his hair but additionally his beard and goatee. The makeover, nonetheless, didn’t translate to fast success on the courtroom towards the Thunder.
Jokic began unusually quiet, failing to attain in any respect in the course of the first quarter.
This marked his first scoreless opening interval on this yr’s playoffs. He finally discovered some rhythm, ending the primary half with 11 factors, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and three steals.
Regardless of remaining lively on each ends, his early scoring absence turned a noticeable storyline as Oklahoma Metropolis took a halftime lead.
With the sequence scheduled to return to Oklahoma Metropolis for Recreation 5, NBA followers stay fixated not simply on the aggressive matchup but additionally on Jokic’s new look as he seeks to guide Denver to a different convention finals.
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