Nikola Jokic expressed frustration after the Denver Nuggets fell 131-121 to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, marking their fourth consecutive home defeat.
“Things got away from us tonight. Defense was something that we didn’t play a lot in the fourth quarter. We scored 17 points. So, defense in the fourth quarter execution,” Jokic said.
The three-time MVP admitted uncertainty over the team’s home performance. “I really don’t know. Seems like it just happens to be like that,” he said when asked why Denver performs better defensively on the road than at home.
The Nuggets were outscored in the second quarter 42-27 and allowed Dallas to stay in rhythm despite an early 17-point lead. Jokic pinpointed easy baskets and missed defensive assignments as major issues. “They’re scoring too easily. We’re not in a body. Offensive rebounds. Probably not where we’re supposed to be,” he said.
Jokic emphasized the challenge of losing Jamal Murray down the stretch. “He’s a great player for us. He can score, get other people involved. But if someone is down, we cannot think about him. We need other guys to step up,” he stated.
He praised Spencer Jones for his effort despite the team’s loss. “He was shooting the ball really well tonight. He’s playing really hard on defense, cutting, trying to be in the right place. More playing time is going to help him,” Jokic said.
The Nuggets star also acknowledged the team’s ongoing struggles with physicality. “I think because we never did it. Probably CB [Christian Braun] is doing the most, and Spencer now, but the rest of us are not doing that,” he said. Jokic admitted he personally can improve in this area. “Oh, definitely. Yeah, definitely,” he added.
Despite his 29-point, 20-rebound, 13-assist triple-double, Jokic stressed that the team needs consistency at home. “It doesn’t feel good to lose in front of our crowd. We were into all four games, but we just didn’t execute. We didn’t play our best basketball,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jokic called for collective effort. “Step up, play hard. Be the best in your role, whatever you do. Play hard,” he said, noting that Denver must improve execution without key players.
The Nuggets will aim to rebound on the road against the Indiana Pacers, while the Mavericks continue their momentum against the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
