Nikola Jokic joked about wanting 'to punch' Bruce Brown
Nikola Jokic was ready to throw hands with Nuggets teammate Bruce Brown Jr. despite having a sizeable lead at the end of Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals.
“When he did a step-back 3, I almost … I wanted to punch him,” Jokic said of Brown, who had 21 points off the bench in Denver’s Game 4 win to go up 3-1 over the Heat. “But when he made it, I was so happy.”
The Nuggets star and two-time MVP can be seen with his hands up in disbelief as Brown, the former Net, sets up to fire away from behind the 3-point line off the dribble.
Once the shot went in, Jokic chuckled and smiled as he slapped his towel on the floor.
The game was over after that one dropped with 1:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, extending Denver’s lead to 108-91.
Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a basket during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat on June 9, 2023. Getty Images
Nikola Jokic stands in disbelief as Bruce Brown fires away a contested 3-pointer. BR
Brown had 11 points in the final quarter, contributing to his playoff-high 21 points.
His 3-pointer off the dribble isn’t a shot he would typically take, as a career 34.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
But his contributions, as well as Aaron Gordon’s game-high 27 points, helped support stars Jokic and Jamal Murray to propel Denver to within one win of the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets talks to the media on June 9, 2023. NBAE via Getty Images
The 3-1 series deficit has only been overcome once in the NBA playoffs: in 2016, by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Nuggets can clinch the series at home Monday night in Game 5.
Source: New York Post
