Jokic complimented Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, and said that a clone of himself is the best way to fight with the trio of Gobert, Towns, and Reid.

The Denver Nuggets lost the first game of the Second-Round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. After the game, Nikola Jokic joked about the recipe for success.

Anthony Edwards put up an impressive performance, scoring 43 points on 17-for-29 shooting, along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. His outstanding display led the Timberwolves to an away victory against the reigning NBA champions.

When asked about Edwards, Nikola Jokic expressed his admiration for the young player, acknowledging his versatility and skills on the court. Jokic highlighted the need to appreciate and respect the talent of opponents. He recognized the contributions of Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Conley, and Naz Reid in the game, emphasizing the Timberwolves’ overall talent as a team.

During the game, the Timberwolves utilized an 8-man rotation, with three centers, including Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Naz Reid. Collectively, they contributed 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Jokic acknowledged the challenges posed by the Timberwolves’ defensive lineup, noting their length, physicality, and ability to force tough shots and defend pick-and-rolls effectively. He recognized them as a formidable team.

The Nuggets can win this series, but Jokic and Murray have to start playing like Jokic and Murray. Jokic specifically must be the best player on either team, something that happened in each of those previous instances when opponents actually backed the Nuggets up against the wall. Murray, meanwhile, probably can’t leave the top three of the overall hierarchy by the time the dust settles. We have yet to see it this postseason but to advance to their third Western Conference Finals in the last five seasons, the Nuggets’ franchise players will have to bring their A+ game moving forward.

Regarding the loss in Game 1, Jokic stated that it didn’t serve as motivation for him personally. Instead, he emphasized the need for the team to improve and perform better.

To overcome the Timberwolves, Jokic humorously mentioned the idea of having a duplicate clone of himself, allowing him to stay fresh while another player takes his place. However, he acknowledged the Timberwolves’ versatility, ability to play big or small lineups, and their strong defensive capabilities. Jokic expressed satisfaction with his own shot selection but recognized the difficulty of the game against a skilled and aggressive defensive team like the Timberwolves.