Denver’s Nikola Jokic put up some good statistics in Friday night’s Game 1, but nowhere near what we’ve seen from him over the last few games of their Western Conference semifinal victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Nuggets failed to keep pace with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game of the Western Conference Finals. A big reason why was that Jokic’s game was being disrupted by someone the Lakers barely used in the last round: veteran center and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard.
Howard drew two offensive fouls on Jokic in the 2nd quarter, putting him in foul trouble early in the quarter and forcing the Nuggets to make way without their north star. Howard was asked about the job he did after the game and he said that he would love to annoy Jokic for the duration of the series, even if they cross paths in the hotel, according to Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group.
Dwight Howard told us the other day he loves to play against Nikola Jokic. When he checked in tonight, he wanted to show him he’s there — and maybe that Jokic should watch out off the court too. pic.twitter.com/nxYdJAiJn8
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) September 19, 2020
Thanks to Howard’s bothersome defense on Jokic, Lakers coach Frank Vogel gave Howard the start in the second half of Game 1. It would be a surprise at this point if Howard doesn’t get the start for Game 2.
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