DENVER — The shorthanded Nets already brought a losing streak into their most daunting road trip of the season.
Their slump guarantees to get a bit longer.
The injury-riddled team fell, 124-105, to the Nuggets on Friday night at Ball Arena, a rough technique to start a six-game Western swing.
Denver superstar Nikola Jokic — who entered leading the NBA in scoring (31.5) and ranked second in assists (9.7) — was questionable after missing the prior two games with a non-COVID illness.
Naturally, he got here back against the Nets and was every bit as dominant as expected, posting a triple-double with 35 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds.
“He’s the sport plan,” said coach Jordi Fernandez, a former Nuggets assistant. “Yeah. So, obviously, a excellent team. They’ve been together for a very long time, thoroughly coached. And the ball goes to be in Nikola’s hands. He leads the league in post-ups, No. 2 in assists, No. 1 in touches. In order that’s who he’s.
“Then he has great teammates around, a man that may take over and dominate the sport in Jamal [Murray], Michael [Porter Jr. is] shooting thoroughly. The entire team, they know what they’re doing. … So we’ve done our job, we’re prepared to play this team. And it’s a superb challenge for us since you don’t get to face the perfect player on the earth on daily basis.”
The Nets got a team-high 22 points from Keon Johnson and 19 off the bench from Tyrese Martin.
But with leading scorer Cam Thomas, shooter Cam Johnson and point guard D’Angelo Russell all hurt, they lacked firepower.
“It’s been a troublesome yr for them, but if you have a look at all the things they’ve passed through this yr — the trades, the players and all that — crucial thing for Jordi … is to determine a culture. Then as you add pieces to that culture, then the wins will come,” Denver coach Mike Malone said.
“That’s what I attempted to do here in 12 months 1, 10 years ago. But before the wins are going to come back, you’ve got to create an identity, you bought to create a culture. And I believe Jordi is on his technique to doing that.”
The Nets (13-25) fell behind by as many as 22 within the third before their fast break-fueled rally fell short within the fourth.
They mounted a 19-3 run to drag inside 97-92 when Martin found Reece Beekman for a 3-pointer with 8:18 to play.
Denver, just 2-3 without Jokic, improved to 20-12 with him.
The Nets’ lottery positioning improved as well.
They’ve dropped 4 straight and 7 of their last eight and, in the method, moved out of a tie with the Trail Blazers and into the sixth-best odds within the draft lottery.
The Nets play at Utah and Portland, fifth and seventh in lottery positioning, on this marathon road swing that might be pivotal for draft positioning.
The Nets led 46-40 with 6:40 left within the second quarter but allowed a 16-2 Nuggets run.
Jokic began it by finding Russell Westbrook for a cutting layup, and Westbrook’s tip-in capped it.
The Nets went into the locker room down, 65-59, on the break.
They allowed a 14-3 run within the third and fell behind by 22.
The Nets didn’t quite capitulate, reeling off 12 unanswered points spanning the third and fourth quarters. They pulled inside five but got no closer.
A final 14-3 Denver run padded the rating back to 117-100 with lower than three minutes left, and the sport was over.
“Its been exciting because I get to see guys which have never been in certain roles or played minutes within the NBA they usually get to do it for the primary time. So I don’t think frustration will take me to a superb place, especially encouraging the blokes, and see them compete and fight,” Fernandez said. “Obviously, you desire to be higher, you desire to win every game, and that’s what we’re aiming for is just keep improving developing these guys and have the prospect to fight for wins.”
