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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – After Nikola Jokic scored 43 of Denver’s 99 points in what ended up being 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 their superstar center.
“It’s not running out of gas,” Malone said, referring to Jokic who scored just four of those 43 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday evening. ‘He needs help … We’re playing back-to-back [Wednesday], and every night Nikola goes out and literally puts this team on his back. He just needs a few men to help him. “
The Nuggets – who played without three starters on Tuesday (Gary Harris, Will Barton and Paul Millsap) and two more rotation players (sixth man Monte Morris and wing PJ Dozier) – did not give Jokic much to the Celtics. It almost didn’t matter, as Jokic made all six shots in the first quarter for 15 points, before adding 14 in the second quarter and 10 more in the third.
But after coming back into the game in the fourth, he looked tired and missed a few tight looks that could have put him within reach of a 50-point second game this season as he made himself one of the leaders for the race. MVP award.
It wasn’t nearly a pleasant evening for the rest of the Nuggets. Jamal Murray shot well and finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but he made a career-high 9 turnovers – more than half of Denver’s 17 giveaways.
And while point guard Facundo Campazzo was impressive in his first career start, finishing with 15 points and eight assists in a game-high of 40 minutes, the rest of the Nuggets were a combined 8-for-23 off the field, including 0 -out -15 out of 3-point range.
“Jamal tried to get it going, but he can’t have nine turns on the road as our start guard,” said Malone. “And he knows it. Other guys have to find ways to contribute. But it speaks about how well Nikola plays. He leaves it there every night. That’s why of course he’s an MVP candidate, but it can’t just be one. man in this league, you need others to perform and contribute, and hopefully we get that [Wednesday] night.”
Murray and Jokic went out of their way not to criticize their teammates who were playing, including first-round picks Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton, who said they believe the players on the field are good enough to win.
And in Murray’s case, he took the blame for the loss.
“Very game to be won,” said Murray. “It really doesn’t really matter who’s out there. It’s just the little details that hurt us a little … I got this game on me because I don’t think I’ve ever had nine turns. [That’s] nine plays, nine possessions we could have got back. “
It was a particularly ugly game for Denver attackers Michael Porter Jr. and JaMychal Green. They combined to knock 1-for-15 out, including 0-for-7 from the 3-point range, for a total of 53 minutes.
Porter is now a combined 2-for-18 on 3-pointers for the past three games.
“I can’t take pictures,” Malone said. “That’s one thing I can’t do from the bench. I mean, Michael Porter bounced the ball back, but right now, in the last five, six, seven games, he’s really struggling to take shots, especially from the three point line We know he will bounce back He’s too good a shooter not to do it He just has to make sure that if no shots go in what else can I do to help my team JaMychal Green, same He gets good looks, had a few shots going in and out, around the basket of 3, we just gotta stick with guys.
“As long as they look good, I want those guys to keep shooting the ball, and if we can make some easy ones, get to the foul line, maybe that will boost their confidence too.”
Jokic shrugged when asked if he is getting frustrated with his teammates’ inability to produce.
“No I am not [frustrated]’, he said.’ We know, especially today, that it is a very different setup. … I think it’s just a different kind of game for everyone right now. But we have to adapt. Everyone must come forward. “