Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray: Dismissing Exhausting Rumors, Denver Nuggets Focus on Correcting Mistakes

The Denver Nuggets are now facing the harsh reality of playoff elimination, despite a legendary performance from their franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokic. In a crucial Game 5 showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jokic logged nearly every minute and poured in 44 points. Yet his brilliance was not enough, as the Nuggets fell 112-105 and slipped to the brink of postseason collapse.

Nikola Jokic Plays Ironman Role in Game 5

When the stakes are highest, superstars shine—or at least, they try to. For Nikola Jokic, Game 5 was another masterclass in resilience, control, and individual brilliance. Playing all but 3 minutes and 52 seconds of the game, Jokic embodied toughness. He finished with a dazzling stat line that included 44 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists.

“You don’t think about that when you play. I felt good,” Jokic said, brushing off fatigue concerns during his postgame comments. And from his play, it certainly looked like it.

The 2-time MVP maintained his form deep into the fourth quarter, where he nailed 4 of 6 shots and hit Denver’s only three-pointer after the third quarter. But while Jokic kept performing at a near-mythical level, the rest of the roster collapsed when it mattered most.

Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. Struggle Late

One of the biggest headlines emerging from the loss was the offensive struggles of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.. Murray, often Jokic’s primary running mate, shot just 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter—his lone make coming in the final 20 seconds when the game was all but out of reach.

“I don’t want to use that [fatigue],” Murray said. “I play better when I’m tired. I got to go get the ball and do something.”

However, the numbers didn’t back up his defiance. Murray and Porter Jr. combined to miss crucial shots, and Porter Jr. went 0-for-3 in the fourth, providing zero offensive rhythm. Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and even Russell Westbrook (in his limited minutes) also missed all of their shots in the final period.

In total, the Nuggets shot 1-of-15 in the fourth quarter, including 0-for-11 from deep. That wasn’t just poor shooting—it was a complete team collapse.

David Adelman’s Coaching Decisions Under Scrutiny

With head coach Michael Malone still sidelined, interim coach David Adelman took the reins for Game 5. While Jokic was clear about feeling up to the task of playing the entire second half, the decision to leave him in without rest is now being dissected in Denver’s postmortem.

Adelman admitted he struggled with the decision. “He felt good. I was going back and forth with it. With the four timeouts, that was a big factor for me,” Adelman explained.

“I’ll look back at it and doubt myself, because we lost the game,” he said candidly.

To his credit, Jokic showed no signs of wear on the floor. But the coaching staff’s decision to lean on an eight-man rotation against Oklahoma City’s fresher ten-man lineup may have caught up to them. The Thunder had more rest, more depth, and more legs to close out the game strong.

Oklahoma City’s Depth Proves Decisive

The Thunder’s win wasn’t just about Denver’s failures—it was about Oklahoma City executing when it mattered. The team, led by rising stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, held their composure as the Nuggets wilted. They’ve benefitted from a smoother postseason path, sweeping the Grizzlies in the first round and entering the second series with a well-rested core.

Their balanced 10-man rotation helped keep energy levels high, and it showed in the game’s final stretch. While Denver’s core players showed signs of exhaustion—missing open shots, making late rotations, and failing to match defensive intensity—Oklahoma City closed the game with poise and grit.

This wasn’t just a win; it was a signal that the Thunder are more than ready to challenge for a place in the Western Conference Finals.

The Harsh Reality of Playoff Attrition

The Nuggets’ Game 5 loss was not a failure of effort. It was a clash between talent and fatigue, with the latter ultimately prevailing. Denver came off a grueling seven-game series against the Clippers, while Oklahoma City cruised through the first round. That difference in mileage is glaring now.

Denver’s rotation tightened as the series progressed. While Jokic, Murray, and Porter Jr. were asked to shoulder heavy minutes, younger legs like Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson saw limited action. The fatigue wasn’t just physical—it affected decision-making, rhythm, and shot mechanics.

Adelman acknowledged as much, saying, “If it is fatigue, that’s on me. I’m deciding who is going to run it, who is going to be out there.”

What’s Next for the Nuggets?

The Nuggets now face elimination in Game 6, with their season hanging by a thread. If they hope to extend this series, several things must happen:

1. Jamal Murray must step up. He’s had sporadic performances throughout the series, and Denver cannot afford another quiet night from their second-best player.

2. Michael Porter Jr. needs to either produce or be benched. His shooting has been wildly inconsistent, and his defense unreliable.

3. The bench must provide a spark. Whether it’s Strawther, Braun, or Watson, someone outside the core needs to rise.

4. Jokic must get support. He’s carried the load all postseason, but basketball remains a team game.

Game 6 will likely demand another herculean effort from Jokic, but this time, it also requires cohesion from the rest of the team.

The Thin Line Between Legend and Elimination

Jokic’s performance Tuesday night was the stuff of legend. But in the playoffs, legendary individual efforts don’t always translate to wins. What matters more is how the team responds, how the coach adjusts, and how the rotation functions under stress.

Despite his superhuman play, Jokic could not drag the Nuggets over the finish line alone. The loss underscores an important truth in the postseason: depth, rhythm, and rest often matter more than one man’s brilliance.

The Nuggets now enter Game 6 needing more than their MVP. They need answers.