Nikola Jokic has a simple explanation as to why the Denver Nuggets have been struggling in crunch-time situations.
The Denver Nuggets returned to the floor for the first time since the All-Star break on Thursday, dropping a close game to the Los Angeles Clippers, 115-114.
The Nuggets led 102-101 with three minutes remaining, but it was the Clippers who made the necessary plays down the stretch to pull out the victory.
The Clippers would go up five, but the Nuggets tied the game at 107 with 46 seconds remaining.
Bennedict Mathurin made two free throws, Brook Lopez blocked Nikola Jokic, and Derrick Jones Jr made two more free throws to make it a four-point game.
The two teams traded dunks before Jamal Murray hit a three to cut the lead to one. Mathurin sank two free throws. Murray had a chance to tie the game at the line after he was fouled on a three-point attempt, but missed the third free throw.
Late Game Struggles
Asked after the game why the Nuggets were struggling in the clutch as of late, Jokic offered a simple reply.
"Not making shots. We are not making those big shots. Hopefully, that is going to change," he said.
The Nuggets have lost six of their last ten. Four of those losses have come by three points or less, and another loss came in double overtime. A ten point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, in a game that wasn't as close as the score may indicate, was the only game that didn't come down to the final five minutes.
During this ten-game stretch, Denver is shooting 42% from the field in the clutch, but a rough 26% from three and only 81% at the line.
Defense More Than Offense
While Jokic pointed to the lack of shot-making for Denver, it's been their inability to get stops that has been more concerning.
Their offensive rating remains high at 125 in clutch situations over the last ten games. That's five points better than their season offensive rating of 120.7.
It's their defense that falls off as their defensive rating in clutch situations is 130.6.
Overall, this season, the Nuggets have found themselves in 28 clutch games, sporting a 14-14 record. Their offensive rating in those situations is 115.7, which is the eighth-best offensive clutch rating.
Once again, it's their defense that suffers the most as their 125 defensive rating in the clutch is the second worst in the league, only better than the lowly Brooklyn Nets, who have the least amount of clutch victories on the season with five.