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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 Jokic’s teammates had to do more to support your superstar center.
“He’s not running out of gas,” Malone said, referring to Jokic scoring just four of those 43 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday night. “He needs help … We are playing back to back [Wednesday], and every night Nikola comes out here and literally puts that team on his back. He just needs some guys to step up 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 hardly mattered, as Jokic made all six shots in the first quarter with 15 points, before adding 14 in the second quarter and 10 more in the third.
But after re-entering the game in the fourth, he looked tired and missed some clean looks that could have gotten him to the second 50-point game this season as he continues to become one of the MVP Award vanguards. .
It wasn’t such a nice night for the rest of the Nuggets. Jamal Murray threw well, finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but committed 9 career records, more than half of Denver’s 17 gifts.
And while striker Facundo Campazzo was impressive in his first start of the race, finishing with 15 points and eight assists in a 40-minute game, the rest of the Nuggets were a combined 8-on-23 from the field, including 0 by -15 from the 3-point range.
“Jamal tried to push it forward, but he can’t have nine changes along the way as a starting guard,” Malone said. “And he knows it. Other guys have to find ways to contribute. But he talks about how good Nikola is playing. He leaves it all there every night. That’s why he’s a MVP candidate, obviously, but he can’t just be a man in this You need others to contribute and we hope we get it [Wednesday] night. “
Murray and Jokic did their best not to criticize their 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 win-win game,” Murray said. “It really doesn’t matter so much who’s there. It’s just the little details that hurt us a little bit … I put on this game because I don’t think I’ve ever had nine changes. [That’s] nine plays, nine possessions we could have returned. “
It was a particularly ugly game for Denver starting striker Michael Porter Jr. and JaMychal Green. They combined to go 1-on-15 from the field, including 0-on-7 from the 3-point range, for a total of 53 minutes.
Porter is now a 2-on-18 combined in triples in the last three games.
“I can’t shoot,” Malone said. “This is something I can’t do from the bench. I mean, Michael Porter bounced the ball, but right now, in the last five, six, seven games, he’s really struggling to make shots, especially from the 3-point line We know he will play again.He is too good a shooter not to do so.Just make sure that when the shots don’t come in, what else can I do to help my team? JaMychal Green, the same good looking, had a couple of shots coming in and out, around the basket from 3, we just have to stay with guys.
“As long as they generate good looks, I want these guys to keep shooting the ball and obviously if we can generate some easy ones, we get to the foul line, maybe that will also help them in their confidence.”
Jokic shrugged when asked if he was frustrated by his teammates’ inability to produce.
“No, I’m not [frustrated]We know, especially today, that it is a completely different lineup. … I think now it’s just a different kind of game for everyone. But we have to adjust. Everyone has to increase. “