The Denver Nuggets won a critical playoff clash Friday despite Nikola Jokic having one of the worst postseason games of his career. Fans took note.
Jokic tallied 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists in the Nuggets’ 113-104 overtime win over the Thunder in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. On paper, Jokic’s numbers looked pretty solid. But his actual performance was not at the level fans have grown accustomed to seeing from the three-time NBA MVP.
Jokic coughed up eight of the Nuggets’ 14 turnovers in the contest. He also shot 8/25 from the field, including a ghastly 0/10 mark from beyond the three-point line.
The Nuggets center’s poor play in a win had several fans trying to dispel the narrative that “Jokic has no help.”
Because of his pregame attire for Game 3, many Nuggets supporters were anticipating a spectacular performance from Jokic. However, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Jamal Murray, the Joker’s supporting cast, filled in for the Serbian star. Denver now leads the series 2-1 thanks to the three players’ combined 63 points.
Not even the greatest players in the history of the NBA have led a team to a title with “no help.” Despite some struggles earlier this season, the Nuggets’ championship core around Jokic from two seasons ago remains largely intact. Jokic needed help on Friday, and those same teammates had his back.
Nuggets fans may even see Game 3 as a positive. The team showed that it is capable of beating a formidable Thunder squad without Jokic playing at his best.
