Kevin Durant Pays Nikola Jokic the Ultimate Compliment After Suns vs Nuggets

• Kevin Durant has complimented Nikola Jokic, saying he will be one of the best centers ever
• Durant was speaking after the Denver Nuggets eliminated his Phoenix Suns from the playoffs
• The Serbian averaged 34.5 points and 10.3 assists in the NBA Western Conference semifinals

The Denver Nuggets crushed the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets won 125-100 on the road to reach their first conference finals since 2020.

Nikola Jokic registered another triple-double, prompting Phoenix Suns star, Kevin Durant to say the Serbian would go down as one of the best centers of all time.

Jokic finished with 32 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and three steals in his fifth triple-double of the postseason. No player in this season's playoffs has more than one.

He averaged 34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 10.3 assists against the Suns.

Lakers thrash Grizzlies by 40, advance to Round 2 of NBA playoffs

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The 28-year-old now has the most triple-doubles of any center in NBA playoffs history, ahead of Wilt Chamberlain (9). The two-time MVP is now tied with Jason Kidd (11) for the fourth-most ever. Only Russell Westbrook (12), LeBron James (28), and Magic Johnson (30) have more, per ESPN.

The Nuggets had an 81-51 lead after the first half, their largest halftime lead in the playoffs in franchise history. Their 81 points are also the most scored in a first half by a road team in playoff history, per ESPN Stats and Info.

Durant commends Jokic after playoffs

Despite the embarrassing defeat, Durant was quick to shower the Nuggets superstar with praise.

“Jokic is an all-time great. He’ll go down as one of the all-time great centers to ever touch a basketball. He went out there and did what he was supposed to do,” Durant said in his postgame, via Sporting News.

Photos: Jack Nicholson, Dr. Dre among celebrities who watched Game 6 between Lakers and Grizzlies

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The Serbian big man was unstoppable in the first half. He had 20 points, seven assists, and six rebounds on 10-of-12 shooting. Durant and Devin Booker could simply not keep up with Jokic.

The two-time NBA champion finished with 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting in Game 6. Booker, who was having a terrific series, had only 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting, per ESPN.

Durant reacts to Suns playoff exit

Sports Brief earlier reported on Durant describing the Suns' playoff exit as an embarrassment.

The Phoenix team exited the postseason in humiliating fashion for the second straight season.

Last season, the Suns lost in round twothe second round to the Dallas Mavericks and were down 30 at halftime, just like in Game 6 against the Nuggets.