BREAKING: Clippers Star Sends Clear Nikola Jokic Message Before Playoff Matchup

A pivotal Western Conference showdown took place on Sunday afternoon as the ESPN contest was quite crucial for the standings.

The Golden State Warriors hosted the LA Clippers in a game that would determine the No. 4 through No. 8 seeds in the West playoff picture.

The contest went into overtime, though the Clippers got the best of Golden State by the final buzzer.

With the win, LA was set as the No. 5 seed in the West, meaning the Denver Nuggets will host them in the first two games of a playoff series.

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will have a chance to take on a surging Clippers squad.

With an interim head coach, Denver is already vulnerable, and LA happens to have ended the season quite strongly as they are hitting their stride at the perfect time.

Jokic averaged a triple-double for the season and has been more-than-superb, though his supporting cast hasn’t been all that great.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone congratulates center Nikola Jokic (15) in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Ball Arena.

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Clippers, on an eight-game win streak, will certainly pose issues for the Nuggets in the first round.

Clippers star makes clear Jokic statement

Ahead of the series tipping off this week, Clippers star big man Ivica Zubac was asked about facing off with Jokic.

“It’s gonna be tough. He’s incredible,” Zubac said. “Best player in the league, for sure. He’s got so much stuff. You gotta mix in a lot of different coverages. It’s gonna be tough, for sure. But I think we have our advantages. I’m sure our coaching staff is gonna prepare us to be locked in from Game 1.”

Ivica Zubac on the Nikola Jokic matchup:

“It’s gonna be tough. He’s incredible. Best player in the league, for sure. He’s got so much stuff. You gotta mix in a lot of different coverages. It’s gonna be tough, for sure. But I think we have our advantages. I’m sure our coaching… pic.twitter.com/20RRS2zVJN

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 14, 2025

Zubac didn’t hold back — he dubbed Jokic the best in the NBA, which is hard to deny at this point. However, Zubac is a strong, big-bodied center capable of putting up big performances himself.

The two are bound to have a great battle within the seven-game series between the two sides.