Nikola Jokic didn’t hold back after the Denver Nuggets suffered a humiliating 123-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, snapping their nine-game win streak. For a team that had been rolling through February, the loss exposed a glaring issue: their success had come against weaker competition. Jokic’s blunt response after the game underscored that realization, as he admitted that Denver may have “tricked ourselves” into believing they were playing at a higher level than they actually were.
“I told you we had the 9-game winning streak against teams that were injured and their teams are not really a good or high understanding so maybe we trick ourselves, you know that we are playing good.”
The Nuggets’ recent dominance had been somewhat misleading. Their nine-game win streak was built almost entirely against losing teams, with eight of those victories coming against opponents below .500. Against teams with winning records, the Nuggets have struggled all season, posting a concerning 12-14 record.
This loss against the Lakers, a team they had consistently dominated over the last two seasons, was a stark reminder that they have yet to truly prove themselves against elite competition.
Denver was completely outclassed by the Lakers in nearly every aspect. Luka Doncic had his best game as a Laker, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while LeBron James added 25 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
Meanwhile, Jokic was held to just 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting, his second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Lakers smothered him defensively, denying him easy touches, fronting him in the post, and sending double teams at every opportunity. Jokic, who usually picks apart defenses with his passing, was forced into six turnovers, a rare sight for the reigning MVP.
Head coach Michael Malone echoed Jokic’s sentiments, acknowledging that the loss was a wake-up call for the team.
“No one’s going to be scared that the Denver Nuggets are coming to town. So we have to play a lot better than we did tonight. We got away with it against Charlotte, but against the quality of opponent that we played… We have to understand that we can not just rely on our offense.”
“We averaged 128 points per game on our nine-game win streak. And tonight, we had 100. So when we’re not scoring, when we’re not making shots, what are we going to do?”
The Nuggets had averaged 128 points per game during their win streak, but against the Lakers, they were held to just 100 points, a testament to how well Los Angeles executed their defensive game plan.
JJ Redick, the Lakers’ first-year head coach, took this matchup personally. After suffering playoff heartbreak at the hands of the Nuggets for two straight years, Redick and his staff spent days preparing for this game, and it showed. His game plan was executed to perfection, with multiple defenders taking turns on Jokic, preventing him from getting into his usual rhythm.
This loss doesn’t define the Nuggets, but it does raise important questions. Can they truly contend for a championship, or are they simply a good team feasting on weaker opponents? Their upcoming four-game road trip against top Eastern Conference teams will provide another crucial test. If Jokic and his team want to avoid another embarrassing loss, they’ll need to prove that their success isn’t just a mirage.
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