Nikola Jokic is owning up to his struggles after the Denver Nuggets’ shocking 92-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4. With the win, the Thunder tied the series 2-2 and regained home-court advantage. Despite Jokic’s impressive season stats—averaging 26.5 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists—his performance in recent games has been less than stellar, particularly in the shooting department.
In a post-game interview, Jokic spoke candidly about his difficulties, particularly with the Thunder’s defense. “I mean, it’s a little bit of everything. They’re playing really good defense on me, they’re really– into my body, handsy, physical, and I think I missed like two, three open looks tonight, so it’s a little bit of everything. They’re shrinking the ball, they’re shrinking the floor for me, they have a guy behind the defender, so it’s a little bit of everything, you know. I need to do a better job, of course, but it’s part of the game,” said Jokic. His reflection highlights not just the Thunder’s tough defense but also his personal frustration at missing open shots.
While his numbers in the series seem solid on the surface, a closer look at his shooting efficiency tells a different story. Jokic made an impressive 51.7% of his shots in Game 1, scoring 42 points. However, his shooting has dipped significantly in the subsequent games, going just 21 for 63 (33%) from the field and a dismal 4 of 22 (18.18%) from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he even went 0 for 10 from three-point range, adding to his ongoing slump.
The Nuggets’ hopes of advancing in the series now rely on Jokic breaking out of this slump. Despite strong performances from teammates like Aaron Gordon (22 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (21 points) in Game 3, Porter Jr. struggled with just three points in Game 4, underlining the importance of Jokic’s consistent scoring. If the Nuggets are to keep their championship aspirations alive, the team needs Jokic to return to his MVP-level form. But with the Thunder now with the mental and home-court advantage, the series could go the distance, with many predicting a seven-game showdown.
