By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Nikola Jokic posted a 44-point, 15-rebound double-double, but the Denver Nuggets did not hold on to a double-digit lead and instead fell into a 3-2 series deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
“It’s not enjoyable [to lose],” confessed the 30-year-old Serbian superstar in a postgame press conference following a losing effort in Paycom Center, “Every close, competitive game is enjoyable for me. If it’s in the Playoffs or the first game of the season, I think I play the game every day the same way. That’s the key to being prepared, of your mindset. Every game is the same. That’s how I approach the games.”
The team guided by David Adelman was in control for most of Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals best-of-seven series and peaked at 12 points.
“I think we had open looks, but we did not score in those moments,” Jokic described a field-goal drought in the fourth quarter and allowing the hosts to come back, “We are getting open looks. We didn’t do it this time. We missed. But I think we had the looks that we wanted to have.”
After poor shooting efforts and struggling opposite the defense of the Thunder, he made 17/25 from the field, including 5/7 three-pointers in Game 5. “The ball was going in. I made five threes tonight. That helps, of course. They were still doing what they are doing, but the ball was going in,” he mentioned.
Similar to Jamal Murray, the Sombor native played the entire fourth quarter.
“It was a decision I made to leave him out there. I do not regret it right now. After a loss, if I go back and watch the tape, I’ll have a different opinion tomorrow,” said Adelman.
“You don’t think about that when you play. I felt good, and I told DA. And he said, ‘If you want to stay, stay’,” confirmed Jokic, “I don’t know if that changed whatever.”
Game 6 is in Ball Arena and will be played on Thursday. If the Nuggets force a Game 7, the series will return to Oklahoma City on the next edition of NBA Sundays.