Another big triple double by Nikola Jokic was not enough for his team to avoid a tough loss to a Golden State team without three of its stars.
Another big stat line from Nikola Jokic was not enough for the Denver Nuggets to overcome the shorthanded Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Without Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green, Golden State defeated Denver, 128-117. It was a game of back-and-forth momentum swings that saw the Nuggets start off slow before returning to form and grabbing a lead late. But in the end, it did not matter.
Sluggish Start
The second quarter saw the Nuggets close the gap slightly as both Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 21 of their team’s 40 points in the period.
Golden State still protected a nine-point lead at the half after converting 53.6% of its perimeter shots.
By the third quarter, Denver flipped the script.
Nuggets Surge, but Warriors Land Final Blow
The Nuggets took control and outscored the Warriors, 34-19. It looked as if they were exploiting Golden State’s shorthanded roster as they took their first lead of the game during the period and led the Warriors by six points going into the fourth quarter.
However, Golden State would end up delivering a punch in the fourth quarter that would propel it to victory in the end.
The Warriors churned out a 33-point effort in the final frame while holding the Nuggets to 16 points. After limiting Brandin Podziemski to a dismal performance, Denver allowed him to catch fire in the fourth as he scored 15 points while going 6-for-6 from the field.
Jokic Reacts
After finishing with 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists to go along with three steals and two blocks, Jokic reacted to the shocking loss.
“They had better energy,” Jokic said. “And since I (subbed into the fourth quarter), I think it was tied score, I missed three, they made three, I have a turnover, they made like a six, 7-0 run quick, and they were up to 13, 11, or whatever.
“So, we really couldn't find an open shot, they were finding [the] open shot, they were making like they did the whole game. And I think we just had the turnovers, and we didn't have a right way to open looks."
The last few weeks have proven to be difficult for the Nuggets. They have not won back-to-back games since the end of January, and after starting Febuary with a three-game losing streak, they are just 3-6 since the month began. According to Jokic, they need to find a way to close games.
"I mean definitely,” Jokic said. “Because we are losing the games. We are losing the games, and we are not creating open looks, so that's something that we need to change. Hopefully we need to get better, I don't know what it is, but we need to figure it out."
On a personal level, Jokic is still adjusting after a hyperextended left knee suffered on Dec. 29 caused him to miss more than a month.
"Definitely a little bit different,” he said. “Because I've never been in this situation — just because it felt so good before injury. Definitely need a little bit more time, a little bit more games than usual."