Jokic shines, but Murray, MPJ misfire as Bucks run away from Nuggets
Feb 9, 2021, 6:55 AM
Nikola Jokic can’t do everything. Not that he didn’t try.
NBA basketball is a five-on-five affair, and like too many nights of late, his teammates couldn’t shoulder even their part of the bargain, as the Nuggets lost 125-112 to earn their first three-game losing streak of the season.
Jokic scored 35 points on 13-for-26 shooting, pulled down a dozen rebounds, and handed out six assists to lead the team in all three categories. His 39 minutes on the court led the team as well, a problem that the Nuggets will have to find a way to overcome.
Jokic entered the season even more fit than he was in the bubble, and it shows — he’s arguably been the NBA’s best player — but in the rare minutes when he’s off the floor, the Nuggets haven’t looked like anything like the team that reached the Western Conference Finals last fall.
Jamal Murray (4-for-17) and Michael Porter Jr. (3-for-9) had disastrous offensive nights, and they were compounded by underwhelming performances in the rest of the game, as well. Murray scored nine points in the first quarter as the Nuggets leapt out to a high-octane, 42-37 lead after one. He only scored two more in the rest of the game. Porter finished with eight points and seven rebounds in his 27 minutes, and was unable to positively impact the game for the majority of the night.
While Jokic’s teammates missed assignments, didn’t complete offensive plays and generally didn’t play the smart basketball that’s made the Nuggets’ rise possible, the usually cheery Serbian’s frustration was evident for much of the second half. It’s understandable. Jokic has scored 35 or more in three of the Nuggets’ last four losses, but he needs help, and he simply hasn’t been getting it.
***
NEXT UP: Nuggets (12-11) vs. Cavaliers (10-15) | Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 p.m.
***
TEAM NOTES
• Head coach Michael Malone has to figure out what to do with Michael Porter Jr. On Monday, all 27 of his minutes came with Nikola Jokic on the floor, and the 22-year-old looked baffled on offense and defense. Porter’s ability isn’t in question, but it’s evident that he’s second-guessing himself when he should shoot, and too often shooting when he should pass. On defense, he’s out of position with alarming regularity, and that’s not improving. Porter Jr. may be the key to another Nuggets’ playoff run, but he’s been a liability of late. Following Saturday’s loss to the Kings, Malone went with the “tough love” approach. “Sometimes you have to participate in your own recovery,” Malone said. “It starts with Michael, and I have no doubt that he will be better next game. He’s just got to understand, defensively, that’s where we as a team… really need to commit.”
• The Nuggets are one of the league’s better transition teams, but they’re no Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee, who entered the game with the league’s highest scoring average in transition, dominated Denver, outscoring them 18-5 on the fast break.
• Both teams scored 40 points in the paint, but the Bucks were more efficient; shooting 75 percent while all too easily getting to the basket and drawing more fouls in the process.
• The Nuggets had seven shots blocked by four different Bucks players, demonstrating the challenges they had with a tall and athletic Milwaukee roster.
***
PLAYER NOTES
• Nikola Jokic was impressive once again, scoring 35 points with 12 rebounds and six assists; a stat line that’s become normal for the MVP candidate. In his last five games — four of which have resulted in Nuggets losses — Jokic is averaging 36 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists per game while shooting a robust 56 percent from the field.
• Jamal Murray’s shooting percentage has fallen off a cliff. Murray, who shot 4-for-17 on Monday, has only been hitting at a 41.2 percent clip over his last 11 games; scoring over 20 points in only four of them. Murray, who clearly appears to be playing hurt, would likely benefit from a few games off in a row. The question is whether the Nuggets can afford to be without him.
• Will Barton scored 24 points on Monday, good for his season-high, and the second-highest total for the Nuggets on the night. Barton, who was tasked with defending Khris Middleton, matched his 9-for-16 shooting, but had difficulties on defense in the second half as the game escaped Denver’s grasp. Barton’s -19 in plus/minus on the night was the worst of any player in the game, while Middleton’s +17 was the best.
• R.J. Hampton earned 17 minutes in Monday’s loss after receiving 27 in Saturday’s. Hampton, whose slithery play and spectacular speed has impressed coach Michael Malone, has been making the most of his opportunity. The 20-year-old rookie doesn’t look overwhelmed; averaging five points and nearly nine rebounds in only 22 minutes on the court while fitting in smoothly with the second unit.
***
THE FINAL WORD
“We still find ourselves trying to figure out how to be a team that plays a lot better in the second half. We’ve lost three in a row because we haven’t defended anybody.” — Head coach Michael Malone
***
INJURY WATCH
• Facundo Campazzo (knee) left the Feb. 5 game and is day-to-day.
• Gary Harris (left thigh strain) left the Jan. 31 game and did not return. He is day-to-day.
• P.J. Dozier (right hamstring strain) has been out since Jan. 26. He is day-to-day.
• Greg Whittington (left knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 19 and was expected to miss four-to-six weeks.
***
ROTATION (MINUTES)
Starters:
G Jamal Murray (37)
F Will Barton (39)
F Michael Porter, Jr. (27)
F Paul Millsap (30)
C Nikola Jokic (39)
Bench:
G Monte Morris (30)
F-C JaMychal Green (17)
G R.J. Hampton (17)
F Vlatko Cancar (6)
C-F Bol Bol (DNP-CD)
G Facundo Campazzo (DNP-CD)
C-F Isaiah Hartenstein (DNP-CD)
G Markus Howard (DNP-CD)
F-C Zeke Nnaji (DNP-CD)
