Jokić posts 27-12-16 triple-double

Nikola Jokić kept Denver’s season alive Monday night, finishing with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists in a 125-113 Game 5 win over Minnesota. (nba.com) (espn.com) The win cut the Timberwolves’ first-round lead to 3-2 and sent the series back to Minneapolis for Game 6 on Thursday, May 1. (espn.com) (nba.com) Jokić’s triple-double was his 23rd in the playoffs, and NBA.com said only Magic Johnson and LeBron James have more. (nba.com) (heavy.com) Denver’s offense looked like itself again after three straight losses, shooting 56.8% from the field and getting 24 points from Jamal Murray. (espn.com) (nba.com) Spencer Jones added 20 points for Denver while filling in for injured forward Aaron Gordon, according to ESPN’s game recap. (espn.com) Minnesota still has two chances to close the series, but its Game 5 loss came with the roster already described by ESPN and the Associated Press as injury-riddled. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) NBA.com’s Game 5 takeaways said Jokić had shot 34% from the field and 15% on 3-pointers in Games 2 through 4 before his bounce-back. (nba.com) That turnaround is the heart of the result: Denver got its best player back to his usual level, and the series is still going. (nba.com) (espn.com)