But they also acknowledged that without the Joker, the Nugs wouldn't have had a chance in hell of a W.
Fair? Probably not — but such is reality for the squad's 2024-2025 edition.
The Nuggets won the initial confrontation with the Clips on April 21 in an overtime squeaker authored largely by Russell Westbrook, whose astonishing plays narrowly outdistanced his disasters. But on Monday night, Russ, typically the first man off the bench, was less of a factor. Early on, he shot as if taking part in a brick-throwing contest following a two-day drunk. But in a bizarre and unexpected twist, he eventually sank a trio of three-pointers, committed just two turnovers and actually seemed under control for entire moments at a time.
As for the actual starters on the Jokić support staff, they turned in average but not outstanding performances. Michael Porter Jr., whose ineptitude against the Clippers on Saturday night had earned him a bench squat during much of the second half and OT, eked out fifteen points thanks to a couple of threes and several point-blank setups from Nikola; Aaron Gordon threw down fourteen points, mostly at close range; and Jamal Murray cobbled together 23 points via some vintage splashes from deep. But Christian Braun, who's been so consistent of late, authored a subpar effort, managing just five points and making considerably less of an impact on the defensive end.
That left the heavy lifting to Jokić, as usual, and his final stat line looks impressive: 26 points, ten assists and twelve rebounds, for his nineteenth career post-season triple-double. (In NBA history, only LeBron James and Magic Johnson have more.) But the passing savant notched an inexplicable seven turnovers, including one cross-courter that nearly sailed into the stands, out of twenty for the team as a whole. Worse, his prowess at free throws, which was shaky over the weekend, became even less steady. He came up empty twice amid one trip to the line and clanked two other charity stripers, as well. These four wasted points were greater than Denver's eventual margin of defeat.
Leaving freebies on the floor was especially harmful given the performance of the Clippers' oft-injured but currently healthy superstar Kawhi Leonard. He was serviceable two days before, but on Monday night, Leonard returned to the form that saw him reel in championships for the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. He made brilliant basket after brilliant basket nearly every time the ball touched his giant mitts, especially from the midrange — a forgotten distance for many in the league but still damaging. He wound up with 39 points, and if L.A. had needed more from him, he sure as hell would have provided it.
Despite Leonard's greatness, the Nuggets had a chance down the stretch, but basically fumbled it away. After a great rebound, Porter lost track of the ball and was punished for his oversight by having the Clips' Kris Dunn land on him, apparently injuring his shoulder. Nonetheless, the Nuggets came away with the rock down three with around ten seconds remaining. But instead of calling a time out and drawing up a play, interim head coach David Adelman, who took command of the Nugs from the recently sacked Michael Malone just over a week ago, let the action continue uninterrupted — and it proved a fatal error. Braun, who'd been generally off-target all night, wound up taking a misbegotten three, and while the ball eventually bounced to Jokić, his look was more opaque than clean. The Joker's desperation heave never had a chance.
On Thursday, the series moves to Los Angeles, where Denver absolutely needs to seize back home-court advantage. Yes, the Nuggets overcame a 3-1 deficit to humble the Clippers during the COVID-bubble playoffs of the 2020 campaign, but it's likelier that Westbrook plays an entire game without doing something insane than they repeat this feat.
Just as worrisome is the wear and tear on Jokić. Adelman didn't give him an instant's rest during the fourth quarter, and after the final horn sounded, he looked as if he couldn't muster the energy to smile even if a divine being added to his collection of horses by giving him a unicorn. He can't carry the Nuggets on his own — and now is the time for his teammates to give him a lift.
Nuggets loyalists agree, as demonstrated by the twenty memorable posts on X below.
Number 20:
This happens every year
— Bino (@AnimeGuru100) April 22, 2025
The Denver Nuggets suck and let the other team go on a run when Jokic sits so he’s forced to play huge stretches
The fatigue builds up and it affects his defense/playmaking and ends up being more harmful than good https://t.co/x84c5BNHEJ
Number 19:
I think Jokic just ran out of gas at the end of the game. He has to do so much in order to keep @nuggets in the game that he just became exhausted down the stretch. That could equate to him missing FT's (6 for 10) & all those turnovers (7 TO's)#LACvsDEN #NBAPlayoffs #NBA
— Its A DubNation World (@DaBay4LF) April 22, 2025
Number 18:
Big Jokic fan but he was BAD BAD in this game..
— Eriol (@Eriol24x) April 22, 2025
4 missed FT, 7 TO
20-11 TO that was the game
Number 17:
Man I am sick to my stomach nuggets could win this game bro it's a fair game, clippers returned the unforced turnovers on the nuggets, man jokic was not thinking straight turn over was too much man
— www (@Misteryambah) April 22, 2025
Number 16:
nuggets gonna get CB his playoff experience. He's also gonna get 100 mil in the offseason.
— Terron (Former Nba fan, russ and malone fc) (@terron_francis) April 22, 2025
Him Jokic Murray and AG are their core.
Turnovers and freethrows cost us the game, braun will play like it or not. he's been great
Number 15:
jokic might have put up decent stats by the end of the game today but this was definately a below par game from him. gotta be much better if nuggets want to steal a game on the road in LA
— Cityzenn (@bernardologyyy) April 22, 2025
Number 14:
No one is gonna say it but I will. Jokic has been making to many costly mistakes and easily could have lost us game 1 and did tonight. He needs to be better and needs to stop relying on Murray two man game he had others open.
— Antonio Bueno (@Antonio35338935) April 22, 2025
Number 13:
Jokic is basically tired from carrying the Nuggets on his back the whole season
— Dan Gernez (@GernezDan) April 22, 2025
Number 12:
Bro jokic shooting when we had time and that turnover and then MPJ losing the ball and then Gordon missing a dunk and then Bruan dumbass not passing to Russ wide open is what lost us the game and missing our free throws
— NuggetsRussSeason (@nuggets_russ4) April 22, 2025
Number 11:
The missed Jokic free throws.
— Nick H (@NickH720) April 22, 2025
The missed AG dunk.
The MPJ turnover.
The Jokic turnover.
Whatever that last possession was.
If literally one of those plays goes the Nuggets way they probably win the game. Just so many killer mistakes in the final few minutes.
Number 10:
Better focus on team wins than Jokic's stats
— H Cheng (@HaipengCheng) April 22, 2025
Number 9:
he should. he litterally does everything on this nuggets team and they might be the worst team itl without him. averaging 30 with a triple double and leading in all advanced stats. sga is great but not jokic, he had 15 and his team won by 50 in a playoff game
— Duke Dennis (@Lamarmv3x) April 22, 2025
Number 8:
Jokic in the loss:
— NuggetsMuse (@NuggetsMuse_) April 22, 2025
26 PTS
12 REB
10 AST
3 STL
50% FG
Didn't sit in the second half. pic.twitter.com/VM3E44dfHK
Number 7:
Denver is dead last in defensive efficiency of any of the 16 playoff teams
— Keith C. (@kmcorder) April 22, 2025
Fired their coach 2 weeks ago
Russ is a rollercoaster
Gordon calf injury
MPJ shoulder
Nuggets have no bench
Jokic can’t do it all
Losing KCP was huge
Number 6:
also didnt the nuggets have a timeout? why didnt they use that after jokic got the board https://t.co/HOHdfMNXhc
— hyjinx ✰ (@petalstothorns) April 22, 2025
Number 5:
No timeouts or other clock stoppages, aside from brief stop for inbound off made Kawhi field goal.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) April 22, 2025
Nuggets live-ball turnover from Kawhi steal, run clock, Harden miss, Braun miss, Jokic rebound and miss, clock expires.
Number 4:
Its definitely going to be interesting moving forward. Nuggets gotta get one of these but how? Im sure we’ll get a vintage Jokic game soon. He’s been ok by his standards, not great
— Dante Brye (@TaeBrye) April 22, 2025
Number 3:
Nuggets just need 1 or 2 games where all the role players are clicking. Murray is playing well, Jokic is doing his thing, Gordon playing well. Just a lot of wildcards outside of that for them. Clips can count on Batum/DJJ/Dunn outside of their stars.
— Trey (@TA1297) April 22, 2025
Number 2:
Things people don’t wanna hear:
— Zack Tretheway (@Zack_Tretheway) April 22, 2025
If Jokic plays to a normal level, the Nuggets still win that game
Number 1:
staying with nuggets too easy mistakes that can easily be cleaned up game 3 doing well containing zubac pnr, gotta involve gordon and mpj more to stop relying on jokic murray
— chris (@biggritz11) April 22, 2025
