West Notes: Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, Thunder, Timberwolves

Nuggets

Guard Reggie Jackson paid Nikola Jokic a high compliment after Jokic recorded 28 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists in the Nuggets’ blowout win over the Cavaliers.

“He’s a supernova; he’s the brightest star,” Jackson told reporters. “Honestly, he’s the sun. Everything revolves around him.”

Jackson added that Jokic is “one of the most gifted scorers in this league and he doesn’t want to score. He wants to pass the ball and play the right way, which makes him extremely hard to guard.”

• Jokic recorded the 128th triple-do0uble of his career. This despite playing with a sore right wrist that almost kept him out of Friday’s game vs. the Timberwolves.
• The Nuggets were without guard Jamal Murray, who has missed five straight with knee and ankle injuries. Coach Michael Malone said Murray is progressing, though.

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s jumper did more than just beat the Knicks by a point at Madison Square Garden. It clinched the Thunder’s first playoff berth since 2020.

“Great accomplishment for the organization,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “I couldn’t be happier for the team and for the organization. And now we’ve got to continue to sharpen our blade down the stretch here (to) prepare ourselves.”

• Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 19, while Jalen Williams led all scorers with 33, as Oklahoma City moved back into first place in the Western Conference.
• Josh Giddey finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his third career triple-double. “It’s a special place to play,’ he said. “(Whether) triple-doubles happen or not, I just try to go out there, play the right way, play the game how it should be played and those things kind of just happen. It’s a fun place to play.”

Timberwolves

Thanks to Sunday’s upset home loss to the Bulls, the Timberwolves have yet to officially clinch a playoff spot.

“They certainly were hot, but I think we’ve got to do a better job of a) containing the ball, and b) closing out with a little bit more urgency,” coach Chris Finch said. “In the first half in particular, I think we got the game plan wrong, so I’ll take responsibility for that.”

• This marked Minnesota’s first game since owner Glen Taylor ended talk of selling the team, saying that Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore missed a deadline to buy a majority stake in the franchise, as well as the WNBA’s Lynx.
• Taylor and his wife attended the game and were in their usual courtside seats. Rodriguez and Lore, who remain part-owners, were not seen.