Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

After a dismal start to the playoff series, the Denver Nuggets pulled one back on the Timberwolves on Friday night. Nikola Jokic, fresh off his NBA MVP win, led the way alongside Jamal Murray to secure a 117-90 win in enemy territory.

After the game, Jamal Murray sat for the press duties and heaped praise on his Serbian teammate. “He [Jokic] makes everyone around him better… it’s a blessing to be drafted into this situation, into this organization… it’s just a lot of fun,” said the Canadian about his center.

Murray’s appreciative words came after Jokic scored 24 points along with 14 rebounds and 9 assists at the Target Center. The 27-year-old wasn’t behind as well as he also recorded 24 points from 11-21 shooting from the field, turning the corner after his miserable shooting displays in the first two games.

Nikola Jokic has been a centerpiece to the Nuggets play throughout recent years and his presence and distribution enables the franchise to work on the court with maximum efficiency. Michael Porter Jr.’s 21 points on the night was indicative of that, as the Nuggets looked much more like the team everyone saw in the previous round.

Skip Bayless Lauds Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray’s Partnership

While the duo of Jokic and Murray silenced the crowd in attendance, their performance drew Skip Bayless to social media to vocally appraise the 2023 NBA champions.

Television personality and sports analyst Skip Bayless was unable to contain his jubilation on being proven correct after game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. The ever-opinionated Bayless took to social media to laud the Nuggets for their victory, opening a route back into the series.

“As I said on today’s Undisputed, Denver will win Game 3. Championship pride. Plus Denver still has the best two players on the floor — who played that way tonight. Denver by 26 at Minnesota,” wrote Bayless after the 27-point win for the Nuggets. Jokic and Murray were labeled the “best two players on the floor” for their exemplary performance on the night, and for Minnesota, things can really get tricky if the series gets leveled on Sunday when the two teams will meet for game 4.