Nikola Jokic put on a historical performance the other night in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, scoring 44 points. Unfortunately for him and his efforts, the Denver Nuggets came up just short, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-105. With their win, the Thunder took a one-game advantage in the series. Now, the Nuggets are confronted by a serious challenge as they look to go deeper into the playoffs than ever before.
Jokic’s 44 points were a cathartic release after he endured his most maddening three-game shooting slump, easily the worst stretch of his remarkable career. In 3-on-3 action, though, that translated to him shooting just 33.3% from the field overall, making just 21 of his 63 attempts. This was the first time in his career that he didn’t make 40% of his shots. He was inaccurate over the three game stretch, each game going for at least 15 attempts.
Specifically, in Game 5, Jokic showed scoring skills only he possesses, going 17 of 25 from the floor. He was hot from three-point range, hitting five of seven shots. His final basket—a turnaround fadeaway three-pointer over Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren—tied the score with just 1:39 left in regulation. This goal added to his already astounding total. Even that wasn’t enough to secure a win for his squad.
Adelman’s assessment was that Jokic looked much stronger in Game 5 than he did in the previous games. Even with his scoring ability, he was certainly guilty of some excessive turnovers throughout the game.
Jamal Murray, Jokic’s teammate, defended him after the game, stating, “I don’t even think it’s his fault for missing a couple of tough shots that he’s been making his whole career.” Murray himself acknowledged that Jokic had been put in the right positions but struggled to make an impact.
Jokic spoke after the game, acknowledging that the Nuggets had their chances, they just couldn’t come through in key situations. He said, “I think we had the open looks. We just didn’t score in those moments. I think we had the looks that we wanted to have.”
Even with Jokic’s terrific work, the Nuggets failed to make up the difference from the Thunder’s hot start. The defeat heaps even more pressure on Denver as they try to find their footing and regain control of the series. LeBron James hit two 44-point performances in one postseason way back in 2012. Now, Jokic follows him in this extremely rare accomplishment, spreading his offensive genius even when entire schemes are predicated on stopping him.
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