After Painful Losses, Nikola Jokic Faces Disappointment: Nuggets Have Not Met the Expectations of the Champions

Now, with the Nuggets trailing 3-2 in the series and on the brink of elimination, Nikola Jokic’s disappointment is unmistakable. Despite a masterful 44-point performance in Game 5, it was still not enough to rescue his team. The reigning champions have not met their own lofty standard, and Jokic, as the heart and soul of the team, is left carrying not only the physical load—but the emotional one too.

Nikola Jokic’s Herculean Effort Not Enough

In Game 5, Jokic played 44 out of 48 minutes, rarely resting and shouldering the burden on both ends of the floor. He scored 44 points on 16-of-24 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists. He was dominant from the jump, using his patented footwork, vision, and shot-making to keep Denver within striking distance.

And yet, he was alone in his effectiveness. In the fourth quarter, Jokic made 4 of 6 shots and hit the Nuggets’ only three-pointer. The rest of the team combined to shoot 1-of-15 from the field and missed all 11 of their three-point attempts. As the Thunder tightened up defensively, the Nuggets wilted under the pressure. Even Jamal Murray, the usual closer, managed only 1-of-6 in the final quarter.

Jokic was asked after the game if fatigue played a role. His response? Classic Jokic: “You don’t think about that when you play. I felt good. We had good looks. We had everything. We just didn’t make it.”

But effort, even elite effort, doesn’t always equal results. And for the Nuggets, that’s the most bitter pill to swallow.

Championship Expectations and Reality Collide

This version of the Nuggets was supposed to be smarter, tougher, and more seasoned after their championship run in 2023. They had continuity. They had chemistry. They had Nikola Jokic, the best player in the world, and a core of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon. What they didn’t have was consistency from the supporting cast, nor the luxury of rest.

Their second-round opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, is young, deep, and loaded with energy. They’ve utilized a 10-man rotation throughout the playoffs, giving their stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams ample rest. By contrast, Denver has leaned heavily on an 8-man rotation, and with the stakes raised, those legs have grown heavier by the game.

The wear and tear of a grueling seven-game series against the Clippers in Round 1 didn’t help either. The Nuggets came into this matchup already physically taxed, while the Thunder had swept Memphis and had extra rest and preparation time. The contrast in energy has been noticeable—especially late in games.

Jamal Murray and the Pressure to Perform

With the Thunder defense swarming Jokic in late possessions, Jamal Murray was supposed to be the release valve. But the Canadian guard has struggled mightily in this series. He’s shown flashes, but not sustained impact. In Game 5, his only made shot in the fourth quarter came with under 20 seconds left—too little, too late.

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

But the numbers don’t lie. He hasn’t been the same dynamic scorer we saw during the Nuggets’ title run. Whether it’s the Thunder’s athletic perimeter defenders or simply an off series, Murray has not delivered when the Nuggets needed him most.

And then there’s Michael Porter Jr., whose inconsistency continues to plague Denver’s offensive flow. Porter has had games where he disappears entirely, and his three missed fourth-quarter shots in Game 5 were emblematic of his postseason struggles. Aaron Gordon, too, has been solid defensively but unreliable offensively when it matters.

Adelman’s Dilemma and Denver’s Shrinking Options

Interim head coach David Adelman made the choice in Game 5 to ride Jokic the entire second half. With multiple timeouts available and Jokic feeling fresh, it felt like the right decision at the time.

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

The plan worked—until it didn’t. Denver went cold in the clutch, and the Thunder surged ahead. Now, Adelman faces another impossible decision in Game 6: shorten the rotation again and hope the stars carry the load, or gamble on fresh legs like Julian Strawther or Peyton Watson delivering under playoff pressure.

Fatigue isn’t just physical—it’s mental. The Thunder are swarming on defense, switching intelligently, and applying ball pressure for 48 minutes. As a result, Denver’s offensive rhythm has disintegrated late in games. If the ball doesn’t move, if Jokic is forced into bailout shots, if shooters go cold—it’s game over.

The Burden of Greatness

What’s perhaps most striking is that Nikola Jokic has been nothing short of legendary, and yet it still might not be enough. He’s doing everything—scoring, facilitating, defending, even sprinting the floor in transition. And still, the Nuggets are on the verge of going home.

This is the cruel reality of the NBA. Greatness, even from the game’s most versatile big man, isn’t a guarantee of team success. Championships require not only stars, but consistent role players, strategic adjustments, and, yes, some luck. The Nuggets haven’t had enough of any of it this series.

Now, Jokic must try to extend his team’s season in Game 6 at home. His mindset is unwavering. He will fight. He will compete. He will do everything in his power to win. But if his teammates don’t rise with him, all that greatness will fade into the shadow of an early playoff exit.

Can the Nuggets Respond Like Champions?

There’s still a flicker of hope. One game at home. One more chance to regroup, rediscover their shooting touch, and send this series to a Game 7. Jokic believes. So does Adelman. But belief alone won’t be enough.

The Nuggets need Jamal Murray to be the clutch shot-maker again. They need Porter Jr. and Gordon to provide spacing and timely baskets. They need role players like Braun, Watson, and Strawther to give them just enough on the fringes.

If they win Game 6, they can walk into Oklahoma City with momentum and confidence. But if they don’t, they’ll exit this season with the stinging reality that they fell well short of the expectations they set as defending champions.

And for Nikola Jokic—the most selfless superstar in basketball—that’s the most painful loss of all.