Nikola Jokić posts 27-12-16

Nikola Jokić put up 27 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists Monday night as Denver beat Minnesota 125-113 in Game 5. (nba.com) The win kept the Nuggets alive in the first-round series and cut Minnesota’s lead to 3-2. Jamal Murray added 24 points, and Spencer Jones scored 20 for Denver. (nba.com) (espn.com) Jokić’s line was his 23rd career playoff triple-double, which NBA.com listed as third on the league’s all-time postseason list. Denver had lost three straight before Monday’s win. (nba.com) Minnesota played Game 5 without Anthony Edwards, who NBA.com said is out at least one week with a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise suffered in Game 4. (nba.com) The Timberwolves’ Game 5 starters included Mike Conley and Ayo Dosunmu in the backcourt, with Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert up front. Julius Randle scored 27 points, McDaniels had 30, and Gobert finished with 13. (nba.com) Denver also was short-handed. ESPN reported Spencer Jones stepped in for injured forward Aaron Gordon and gave the Nuggets a scoring spark in 32 minutes. (espn.com) The result flipped the pressure back to Minnesota before Game 6 on Thursday night in Minneapolis. NBA.com’s series page lists Denver as the No. 3 seed and Minnesota as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference matchup. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Jokić’s stat line landed after a tense Game 4 finish that ended with his ejection alongside Julius Randle. Four days later, Denver got the response it needed and extended the series. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)