Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic put on a remarkable performance by scoring a career-high 56 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and dishing out eight assists in a game against the Washington Wizards. Despite his outstanding individual effort, the Nuggets fell short, losing 122-113 to the struggling Wizards who had previously lost 16 consecutive games.
Jokic expressed disappointment in the team's recent performances, acknowledging that they are heading in the wrong direction. He took responsibility for the loss, stating, 'I think it's everybody's fault.' The Serbian star highlighted the team's need for improvement and suggested that perhaps a change in motivation, such as financial consequences, could help turn things around.
Denver, with a record of 11-10, has been struggling to find consistency, failing to secure back-to-back wins for nearly a month. The team's recent losses have put them in a precarious position, potentially facing a play-in scenario if the season were to end now.
Despite missing key players like Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Dario Saric due to injuries, Jokic took on a heavy offensive load, attempting a career-high 38 shots in an effort to carry his team to victory. His previous career-high scoring mark was 50 points in a losing effort against the Sacramento Kings in February 2021.
While Jokic's offensive prowess was on full display, the Nuggets struggled defensively, allowing the Wizards to capitalize on their weaknesses. Washington's Jordan Poole led the charge with 39 points, including nine 3-pointers, while Justin Champagnie and Jonas Valanciunas provided valuable contributions to secure the victory.
Denver's head coach, Mike Malone, shouldered the blame for the team's shortcomings, admitting that he needs to do a better job leading the squad. Malone expressed his embarrassment over the team's defensive lapses and overall performance, emphasizing the need for improvement moving forward.
Despite Jokic's historic scoring night, the Nuggets will need to address their defensive issues and find ways to rally as a team to avoid further setbacks in the competitive NBA season.
For more NBA news and updates, visit AP NBA.
