Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but shot only 8-for-20 and scored just two points in the fourth quarter as Rudy Gobert anchored Minnesota’s defense. Jokic’s output was hampered by Gobert’s disciplined, one-on-one coverage in the final period.
After the win, Anthony Edwards explained the message he delivered to Gobert heading into the fourth quarter: “I told him, like, we ain’t bringing no double team… You’re gonna guard him one-on-one all night. And stop fouling, stop going for the reach-in because he’s gonna flop and they’re gonna call a foul. So just play him straight up. If he makes a shot over you, cool, that’s what he do. He gets paid to make those shots.” The point was to trust Gobert and deny Jokic easy free throws.
That strategy paid dividends, as Jokic went 1-for-7 in the fourth and totaled only two points in the final frame, marking one of the least efficient playoff performances of his career when defended by a single opponent. Gobert’s formula—length, positioning, and patience—made Jokic work for every bucket late.
Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, delivered with an ultra-clean approach: avoid reaching, contest every jumper, and force Jokic to beat him with tough, contested shots. Jokic was limited beyond the arc as well, contributing to a stifling finish by Minnesota’s frontline defense.
With the series now tied, the next two games shift to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4, where the Timberwolves will try to sustain the same defensive focus and late-game poise. Edwards publicly credited Gobert for changing the dynamic, underscoring that Gobert’s steady containment of Jokic makes Minnesota a legitimate threat to repeat past upsets in this matchup.
