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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – After Nikola Jokic scored 43 of Denver’s 99 points in what turned out to be a 112-99 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, Nuggets coach Mike Malone said Jokic’s teammates need to do more to support your superstar center.
“It’s not running out of gas,” said Malone, referring to Jokic scoring just four of 43 points in Tuesday night’s fourth quarter. “He needs help … We are playing against each other [Wednesday], and every night Nikola goes there and literally puts that team on his back. He just needs a few guys to help him. “
The Nuggets – who played on Tuesday without three starters (Gary Harris, Will Barton and Paul Millsap) and two alternate players (sixth man Monte Morris and winger PJ Dozier) – did not give Jokic much against the Celtics. It hardly mattered, as Jokic hit all six shots in the first quarter to 15 points, before adding 14 in the second quarter and another 10 in the third.
But after returning to the game in the fourth period, he looked tired and missed some clean looks that could have put him within reach of a second 50-point game this season, while he continues to become one of the pioneers in the MVP Prize.
It was not such a pleasant night for the rest of the Nuggets. Jamal Murray shot well, finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but he made a career record with 9 twists – more than half of Denver’s 17 awards.
And while playmaker Facundo Campazzo was impressive in his early career, finishing with 15 points and eight assists in a 40-minute game, the rest of the Nuggets had a combination of 8 of 23 on the field, including 0 to -15 of the track 3 points.
“Jamal tried to make it work, but he cannot have nine laps on the road as a starting guard,” said Malone. “And he knows that. Other guys have to find ways to contribute. But it shows how well Nikola is playing. He leaves everything out there every night. That’s why he’s an MVP candidate, obviously, but he can’t just be a guy in this league. You need others to contribute and, hopefully, we can do that [Wednesday] night.”
Murray and Jokic did their best not to criticize the teammates who were playing, which included first-round picks Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton, saying they believe the players on the court are good enough to win.
And in Murray’s case, he took the blame for the loss.
“Very viable game,” said Murray. “It doesn’t really matter who’s out there. It’s just the little details that hurt us a little … I put this game on me because I don’t think I’ve ever had nine turns. [That’s] nine moves, nine possessions that we could have recovered. “
It was a particularly ugly game for Denver’s starting strikers, Michael Porter Jr. and JaMychal Green. They agreed to go 1 to 15 on the field, including 0 to 7 in the 3-point range, for a total of 53 minutes.
Porter is now a combination of 2 to 18 on 3 points in the last three games.
“I can’t shoot,” said Malone. “That’s something I can’t do with the bench. I mean, Michael Porter hit the ball, but now, in the last five, six, seven games, he’s really struggling to make shots, especially from the 3-point line. We know that he’s going to recover. he’s too good a sniper not to do that. he just needs to make sure that when the shots aren’t happening, what else can i do to help my team? JaMychal Green, same thing. appearance, we had some shots going in and out, around the basket of 3, we just have to stay with the guys.
“As long as they are making good appearances, I want these guys to keep kicking the ball and obviously, if we get some easy ones, getting to the foul line, maybe that will help your confidence too.
Jokic shrugged when asked if he is getting frustrated by his teammates’ inability to produce.
“No, I’m not [frustrated]”, he said.” We know, especially today, it is a completely different formation. … I think it’s just a different kind of game for everyone now. But we need to adjust. Everyone needs to step forward. “