Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic
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Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is fielding questions about his kissing following the team's advancement in the NBA playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets are struggling, but that doesn’t have Nikola Jokic worried for the future of the team.
Following a disappointing 117-108 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nuggets’ star center took an odd stance with his thoughts on the state of the Nuggets.
“It’s a good thing to start happening,” Jokic told reporters after the game. “Then you’re going to start worrying, and you’re going to start caring more.”
Nikola Jokic Is Embracing The Nuggets’ Struggle
Nikola Jokic
GettyNikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are struggling out of the All-Star break. The veteran center addressed the team’s struggles following a Sunday night loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic returned to the Nuggets’ lineup after a month-long recovery process due to a knee injury he suffered in late December.
Since getting back on the court, Jokic’s Nuggets are 5-8. They were thriving with him before the injury, and even won more than 60% of their games without him as well. Some might say they are in the midst of a late-season slump right about now.
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“I think the struggle is good, you know? If you fail, I think it’s good, and it’s just going to keep you worried, and then you’ll play a little bit harder and better,” Jokic finished.
Rachel Strand
Nikola Jokic says this rough patch for the Nuggets might be kinda good.
“You’re gonna start worrying, you’re gonna start caring more. … You’re gonna play a little bit harder and better.”
That’s one way to look at it, for sure.
Fortunately for the Nuggets, they remain well within the Western Conference playoff picture. Although a win would’ve allowed them to jump the Timberwolves for the fourth seed, Denver still has a small lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, who are sixth in the West.
The Nuggets don’t need to enter doom-and-gloom mode in the middle of a two-game losing streak. They simply need to embrace the grind and be better moving forward down the final stretch.
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“Nuggets are 5-8 since Jokic returned. Can’t disentangle their struggles from the absence of important players like Gordon and Watson for pretty much that entire time, but they’re simply playing a lot of mediocre hoops,” The Volume Sports’ Carson Breber wrote. “No way to feel there isn’t a real gap between OKC and them.”
What’s Next For The Nuggets?
Nikola Jokic
GettyNikola Jokic put together an impressive performance against the Timberwolves, despite the Denver Nuggets’ current struggles.
The Sunday, March 1, matchup against the Timberwolves featured a 35-point, 13-rebound, nine-assist outing from Jokic.
After a loss, the Nuggets are going to have a quick turnaround. On the road in Utah, the Nuggets are slated to face the Jazz. Currently, the Jazz are under scrutiny for possible tanking. Considering their situation, Monday’s action might be ideal for the Nuggets team, who are on the hunt to find their proper identity.
Sitting 14th in the Western Conference, the Jazz are 18-42 on the year. They have now lost five games in a row. The game is slated for a 9 PM ET tip-off.
Barring any unexpected changes, Nikola Jokic should be on pace to play.