Curry closes the door on Jokic

The resistance of Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets came to an end in the fifth game of the series against Golden State (4-1), which heads to the semifinals of the Western Conference, in which the winner of the duel Memphis Grizzlies will be measured -Minnesota Timberwolves (3-2).

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and company stopped last season's

and a firm candidate to repeat this season (in the shortlist with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo), and successfully imposed their greatest repertoire.

Without Jamal Murray (who suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee a year ago

, or Michael Porter Jr. (who, weighed down by his back problems, has only played nine games this season), Jokic was left alone to defend the

of Denver in an

mission despite his outstanding and moving display (averaging 31 points, 13 rebounds and almost six assists in the

).

Last year, the Suns marked the last frontier of the Serbian star with a resounding 4-0 and this time the Warriors passed the Nuggets with another conclusive 4-1.

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“I have thanked him for making me better.

It is an honor to play against someone so talented and skilled, ”explained Draymond Green in his praise of Jokic after performing on the court and overcoming a series that consolidates the historic data of the Warriors.

Since 2015, when they conquered the franchise's fourth ring, the first in 40 years, the trio formed by Curry, Thompson and Green have won 19 of the 21 series they have played in an attempt to continue their

fantasy and transgressive

They only yielded in the 2016 NBA Finals against LeBron's Cavaliers and in the 2019

against the Toronto Raptors.

Meanwhile, Steve Kerr climbed to ninth position in the ranking of coaches with the most wins in the NBA

after beating the Nuggets (102-98).

It was the 81st win for the coach, who overtook George Karl in a list of illustrious that continues to be led by Phil Jackson, with 229 victories in the qualifying rounds for the ring.

Curry, once again a starter and a reference after starting the

from the bench after being injured for a month, led the Californian franchise's advance of the round with 30 points (5 of 11 in triples), five rebounds and five assists in the closing of the tie —he already has 49

with at least five triples—.

Jokic, who averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists in the regular season, was unable to sustain his team's candidacy for another night despite signing 30 points, 19 rebounds and 8 assists in the loss of Nuggets backdrop.

Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins completed the administration of Golden State, which is already expecting a rival in a semifinal in which they will face the Grizzlies or the Timberwolves.

The champion meets the Celtics

On the other side of the table, the reigning champions, Giannis Antetokoumpo's Milwaukee Bucks, also reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Success that they sealed after overwhelming some depleted Bulls (4-1 in the series and 116-100 in the last duel) who, given the long list of injuries they accumulated —Lonzo Ball, LaVine, Caruso…—, could hardly put up any resistance, but they close the course with an optimistic balance marked by their excellent first half of the season and their return to

territory

five years later.

The absence of Middleton, Antetokoumpo's squire, injured in the second game of the series, also conditions the Bucks;

the one they lost.

But the Greek power forward reflected his uncontested dominance again with 33 points and nine rebounds in the fifth game.

The Bucks star was supported by Pat Connaughton (20 points), while Bobby Portis had a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds.

It was another resounding victory for Milwaukee, which had finished with double-digit leads in Games 3 and 4 of this series.

Incomprehensible for DeMar DeRozan, annulled by the coral rival defense, until lowering his record to 11 points.

Milwaukee Bucks will face one of the great contenders in the semifinals,

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