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Nikola Jokic arrives to arena dressed as Joker for Game 3 vs. Thunder

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs05/10/25grant_grubbs_
Nikola Jokic Joker
© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

As the great, late Heath Ledger once said in The Dark Knight: “And here we go.” On Friday, Nikola Jokic arrived to Ball Arena dressed for success, donning a Joker-inspired fit.

It was a tongue-in-cheek reference by the three-time MVP, whose nickname is “The Joker.” Hopefully for Nuggets fans, Jokic can cause as much anguish for the Thunders as the Jokers causes in Gotham City. He’s certainly been off to a strong start.

Jokic is averaging 29.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists through the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals series. His monstrous 42-point performance boosted the Nuggets to an upset win over the Thunder in Game 1 but he wasn’t able to replicate his success in Game 2.

Now playing his first game of the series on the Nuggets’ home court, Jokic will look to get back on the right track. After all, he knows what it takes to win in the NBA Playoffs.

In 2023, Jokic led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history. He was the NBA Finals MVP. Despite the Nuggets’ stunning performance in the playoffs in 2023, they suffered a second-round exit the following season.

It’s safe to say Nikola Jokic and Co. are hungry to return to their former heights. On Thursday, Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman explained how the team can bounce back from their lackluster performance in Game 2.

“I’ll say this: fatigue is a word you can use when you lose in the playoffs and that is a factor, but fatigue is part of what the postseason is,” Adelman said. “And finding that next level, your second wind, your third wind, collectively finding energy from each other, is how you win these games.

“And there’s a million ways to break things down: oh, they’re playing more people than you or they had eight days off. All those things are true. But the other truth is well, we had enough energy to win Game 1 two days after winning a Game 7. So, why not have enough energy last night? I think the guys have it in them and I think they’ll bring it tomorrow night.”

The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will square off at 10:25 p.m. ET in Game 3. The game will air live on ESPN. The winner of the series will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.