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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – After Nikola Jokic scored 43 of Denver’s 99 points in what was ultimately a 112-99 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, Nuggets coach Mike Malone said that Jokic’s teammates have to do more to support their superstar center.
“He’s not running out of gas,” Malone said, referring to Jokic scoring just four of the 43 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night. “He needs help … We’re playing in the back [Wednesday], and every night Nikola goes out there and literally puts this team on his back. He just needs some boys to help him and help him. “
The Nuggets – who played Tuesday without three starters (Gary Harris, Will Barton and Paul Millsap) and two more rotation players (sixth man Monte Morris and wing PJ Dozier) – didn’t give much to Jokic against the Celtics. It almost didn’t matter, as Jokic made all six hits in the first quarter for 15 points, before adding 14 in the second quarter and another 10 in the third.
But after re-entering the game in the fourth, he looked tired and missed a few clean looks that could have reached him within a second 50-point game this season, while he continues to make one. among the leaders in the MVP Award.
It wasn’t as enjoyable as one night for the rest of the Nuggets. Jamal Murray shot well, finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but committed 9 career-high turnovers – more than half of Denver’s 17 bids.
And while goalkeeper Facundo Campazzo was impressive in his first start of his career, finishing with 15 points and eight assists in a 40-minute game, the rest of the Nuggets were an 8-for-23 combined on the field, including 0 for -15 in the 3-point range.
“Jamal has tried to put an end to it, but he can’t have nine turnovers on the road as a starting guard,” Malone said. “And he knows that. Other guys have to find ways to contribute. But it’s about how well Nikola plays. He leaves everything there every night. That’s why he’s an MVP candidate, obviously, but he can’t just be a You need others to step up and contribute and hopefully we’ll get that [Wednesday] night.”
Murray and Jokic tried not to criticize their teammates, who included first-round picks Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton, saying they thought the players on the field were good enough to win.
And in Murray’s case, he blamed the loss.
“A very win-win game,” Murray said. “It really doesn’t matter so much who’s there. Only the small details hurt us a little … I put this game on myself because I don’t think I’ve ever had nine turnovers. [That’s] nine pieces, nine goods we could have had back. “
It was a particularly bad game for Denver strikers Michael Porter Jr. and JaMychal Green. They combined to go 1 to 15 from the field, including 0 to 7 in the 3-point range, for a total of 53 minutes.
Porter is now a 2-for-18 combined in 3 points in the last three games.
“I can’t take pictures,” Malone said. “This is something I can’t do on the bench. I mean, Michael Porter has recovered the ball, but right now, in the last five, six, seven games, he’s really struggling to make shots, especially from line 3. “We know he’ll be back. He’s too good as a shooter. He just needs to make sure that when the shots don’t come in, what else can I do to help my team? JaMychal Green, the same thing.” , we had a few photos coming in and out, around the basket at 3, we just have to stay with the boys.
“As long as it generates a good look, I want those guys to keep shooting the ball and obviously if we can generate a few light ones, we get to the foul line, maybe that will help them and their confidence.”
Jokic shrugged when asked if he was increasingly frustrated by his teammates’ inability to produce.
“There are not [frustrated]We know, especially today, that it is a completely different range. … I think it’s just another kind of game for everyone right now. But we have to adapt. Everyone needs to step up. “