The Denver Nuggets Are Waiting on Nikola Jokić
The Denver Nuggets had a clear game plan: stay competitive through the first 18 minutes, keep things tight, and pull the Oklahoma City Thunder into a gritty, defensive battle. What they didn’t anticipate was a disastrous first quarter in Game Four, where they managed just 8 points and shot a miserable 9% from the floor. Despite the poor start, their solid defense kept them within reach. Eventually, they clawed back and even grabbed the lead, thrilling the home crowd in Denver. It was crunch time — the kind of moment built for superstars. But their most important player never arrived.
Nikola Jokić had one of his worst playoff performances, going 7-for-22 from the field with just three assists and missing two crucial free throws late in the game. This marked the third straight outing where he has struggled mightily against the league’s top-ranked defense.
“I need to do a better job,” Jokić said after the game. “But it’s part of the game.”
Over the last three games, Jokić has shot just 33% overall and 18% from beyond the arc, while averaging 5.3 turnovers. Credit goes to the Thunder for their aggressive and disruptive defensive approach. They’ve dictated the whistle and rattled Jokić, who has looked visibly frustrated on the court.
“There’s definitely frustration,” said assistant coach David Adelman. “He sees calls being made when he’s defending, but not when he’s on the receiving end. Still, Nikola will watch the film, and we’ll talk about finishing through contact.”
Fatigue may also be catching up with Jokić, who has carried an enormous load for Denver all season. His exhaustion—physical and mental—is evident, even if he won’t use it as an excuse. He’s also wearing a compression sleeve this postseason, possibly due to an elbow issue. That could help explain his unusual inefficiency, though he’s played through similar injuries in the past.
“They’re playing tight defense on me — physical, handsy, always in my space,” Jokić admitted. “I missed a few open looks, too. They’re collapsing the paint. It’s a mix of everything.”
Even at full strength, this would be a tough matchup. The Thunder are clogging the lane and daring Denver’s supporting cast to make them pay from the perimeter. That strategy worked for the Nuggets in the Clippers series, but it backfired in Game Four — Denver missed all 15 corner threes, destroying their spacing.
As a result, Jokić took matters into his own hands, launching eight three-pointers — a necessity given the packed paint. But he’s been ice cold from deep, including an 0-for-10 night in Game Three. If his elbow is affecting his shot, it’s something he’ll have to work through.
“He shoots 45% from three,” Adelman said last week. “He had an off night. If we’d lost, everyone would ask why he took so many threes. But that’s what the defense gives us. He has to keep shooting.”
Historically, Jokić responds to criticism with dominant performances — what some might call “reminder games,” proving he’s still among the league’s elite. With MVP-favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge and the Thunder ready to seize control in Game Five, the pressure is on. The Nuggets are once again facing adversity.
Denver’s supporting cast has stepped up in the postseason, even picking up wins when Jokić was off his game. But now, they need more from their superstar. That’s the burden of being the face of the franchise.
The series is tied 2-2 as it heads back to Oklahoma City. While Game Four felt like a missed opportunity, a tied series isn’t a bad place to be. It’s now a best-of-three, and Denver still has the best player in the world — they just need him to play like it.
