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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Denver Nuggets have pulled off a great upset tonight. They beat the Clippers in Game 7 to advance to their first Conference Finals since 2009. Leading them to this promised land was Nikola Jokic, who casually set multiple records and ensured the win.

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With his triple-double in just three quarters, he set three different records.

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He set all these records despite playing passive and allowing his teammates to shine. He was excellent on defense, cleaned up the glass, and was playing like arguably the best playmaking big of all time.

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Nikola Jokic: Denver Hero

Jamal Murray may have had the most points, but the impact of Jokic can’t be understated. He was everywhere tonight. Often criticized for his defense, in this series he proved that when he wants, he can put in a defensive clinic.

He had a mammoth 22 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals to lock up the paint. This is arguably his best-ever defensive display so far in his career. He is often praised for his offense, but he tonight he was just showing off his versatility.

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USA Today via Reuters

Initially, he avoided shooting, and just concentrated on finding the open man. He had just four shots in the first half, making three of them. Then in the second half, he took nine shots but struggled to convert and only made two out of them. But with him struggling, Murray took matters in his own hands.

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He finished with 40 points while shooting 57% from the field. He also chipped in with five assists and looked like he was on a mission tonight.

These two are one of the most exciting duos in the league and it will be interesting to see how they fare against LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the Conference Finals.

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Aaron Mathew

1,689 Articles

Aaron Mathew is a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Mass Media from Xavier’s College, Aaron has been a part of EssentiallySports since May 2020 where he covers both NBA and NCAA basketball news, and has also covered NBA 2K. In the past, Aaron has worked at the Sports Desk of Mumbai Mirror. He has also volunteered for organisations such as 'AkshayaShakti Welfare Association' and 'Reviving The Rivers'. His favorite player is, and will always remain, Kobe Bryant.

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