LeBron James has scored at least 45 points in a playoff game 11 times in his career. Kevin Durant’s done it five times. Russell Westbrook, four times. Kawhi Leonard, twice. James Harden, once. Giannis Antetokounmpo, once.
Nikola Jokic? None so far. (Playoff high: 43 points.)
Which is why former NBA guard and current Turner Sports analyst Greg Anthony threw this gauntlet down for the two-time MVP when asked about the Nuggets’ postseason forecast.
“As great as the Joker is. And (as great as) Jamal Murray is, your mindset going into the game, you’re not thinking that, ‘Man tonight, he could go for 50 (points) if we don’t … if we’re not careful, he can go for 50 on you.’” Anthony said during a recent media conference call.
“And most of the truly great players, you feel that way about them. Like if you’re going against Phoenix, you think (with Devin) Booker or Durant, ‘Can they get me 50?’ You know what I mean?
“Your mindset is such that that’s the approach you come with, that’s (the) level … and the edge and the uneasiness with which you’re going to approach it, because of their greatness …
“And I think that’s the issue, as great as the Joker is, that he’s kind of stuffed the stat line. (But) can he go give me 40 or 50 against a great team when everything’s on the line? Because sometimes you’re not going to be able to just pass your way to a win, right? You’re going to have to, physically, especially in seven-game series, because with each game, we know each other more — and that’s where the great players become more important.”
Jokic’s hit that 43-point mark all the way back in the spring of 2019, in the first round against the Spurs. It’s the only 40-point postseason game of the 48 he’s played in his Denver career and it came in a contest the Nuggets lost by 17 points.
The Joker’s scored 35 points or more in a playoff game eight times and the Nuggets are 6-2 (.750) in those games. He’s also netted 30 or more 17 times, and Denver is 9-8 (.529) in those games.
“I really don’t think about that,” Jokic, who’s been nursing a sore calf, said last Thursday when asked about Anthony’s challenge.
“It’s something that I don’t have in my mind, just (to) go out there and score 50. And my goal is just to win a game, no matter what.”
Former NBA sharpshooter Reggie Miller, Anthony’s Turner Sports teammate, never cleared the 45-point barrier in the postseason despite a handful of iconic moments during his 144 playoff appearances. But he also stressed late last week that he’d like to see Jokic demand the ball to close teams out the way James and Durant have done over their careers.
“And it can’t just be one game,” Miller said. “These great players during the playoff games — to win, what is it, 16 (victories) to win a championship, you’ve got to have three or four of them (where they) have those type of games when you’re like, ‘Give (me) ball, get the (expletive) out the way I’m going to finish this thing.’ And you know, when (Anthony) is saying (Jokic will) pass away, when you’re passing it away, you’re relying on someone else to make a shot as opposed to throwing the ball to Embiid (and saying), ‘Go get it for me, Joel.’ (Or you) throw on the ball to Tatum (and say), ‘Go get it for me, Jayson.’
“Anthony Davis, LeBron, Kawhi … we’ve seen them go get it for me. And this is no knock on the Joker. I love him. But is he going to be, ‘Give me the ball, I’ll go get it for you?’ That remains to be seen.”
