LOS ANGELES – Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 36 points and the Denver Nuggets advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs Thursday by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 126-115.
The 7-footer went 13-of-22 from the field and added eight rebounds and six assists for the visiting Nuggets, who won the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series four games to two.
Denver will face either the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns in the second round.
LeBron James and the Lakers were facing elimination later Thursday, trailing their series 3-2 to the Suns entering game six with star forward Anthony Davis injured.
Denver’s Michael …
Keep on reading: Nuggets eliminate Trail Blazers in NBA playoffs