Another record has fallen, and it’s not even surprising anymore, except that even all these records aren’t currently helping Denver. Even his best player’s most efficient game yet, and that against the weakest team of the season so far, is not enough. The Nuggets are simply too dependent on Nikola Jokic. Sometimes, even he can’t do it all – alone.
Denver suffered their second consecutive loss tonight in Washington, their third in the last four games. Denver received a clear message in Washington that if they have any serious ambitions, they need to find adequate help for Jokic on the market because it will be difficult for a team like this to carry him on their backs to the ring, no matter how strong he is. And tonight, he was stronger than ever, the three-time consecutive NBA MVP on his way to a fourth such award scored a record 56 points (plus 16 rebounds and eight assists), but even that was too little for Mike Malone’s team to defeat the Wizards – 122:113.
“When you have a player like that, you have to win more! He has five more years, because even when he gets older his game will be fine because he’s not the most athletic, but I’m telling you, you can’t waste the prime of this guy! He’s the best player in the world, be greedy,” legendary Charles Barkley advised the Denver management in the middle of the week that it was necessary to strengthen the team with some trade so that Jokic could get the much-needed help in his pursuit of the ring.
Just four days later, confirmation arrived – if it was needed – that he needed it very much.
In most other teams, against such an opponent, who has won only two of the previous twenty games, Jokic would certainly have been spared, if nothing else, at least he would have had more of a chance to rest.
In Denver, not only can he not get it, but even against the bottom of the league, he stays on the court the longest of all (38 minutes tonight). He couldn’t count on Jamal Murray due to injury, Russell Westbrook was far below the expected, especially shooting level (seven points, although also ten rebounds, 12 assists) … Wherever he turned, there were no solutions, and so he was forced to do everything himself, as usual. To distribute his teammates on the court, play them, take responsibility from attack to attack, invent points. He shot 38 times from the field, hit three threes (out of five attempts), along with Julian Strawther, the only one from the Denver team, in the end he scored half of the team’s points, but it was not enough for the team…
Denver led only twice (2:0 and 4:2), and from the third until the last minute of the game, they were behind, and although it wasn’t a huge gap (Washington only went plus 15 once), at no point did the Nuggets give the impression that they could turn the score around. Even when the guest approached minus three two minutes before the end of the third quarter (91:88), because whenever Jokic came out to rest – and he needed rest very much – everything would stop and the Wizards would escape again.
It was at that moment when the Nuggets threatened that Jordan Poole responded, hit one, then another three-pointer, and Washington breathed again. The longtime Golden State Warriors player had his second most efficient game since the start of the season, scoring 39 points (9/20 for three-pointers) and was most responsible for the home team’s first victory since October 31…
Justin Shampane also set a career record with 23 points, and Jonas Valanciunas contributed to the surprising victory with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.
Denver is currently 11-10, while Washington is 3-18.
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Izvor: Mozzarsport Foto: Imagn Images / Profimedia