BREAKING: Nuggets coach addresses Nikola Jokic’s playoff struggles: ‘He’s frustrated’
Nikola Jokic’s playoff efficiency has plummeted, shooting just 33% over the last three games. Despite strong stats, his slump is hurting the Nuggets, who are now tied 2–2 with the Thunder.
The Denver Nuggets find themselves in a 2-2 deadlock in their Western Conference semifinal against the Oklahoma City Thunder — and at the heart of their struggles is Nikola Jokic, who, despite big counting stats, is far from his MVP form.
In Game 4, the Serbian center posted 27 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals, but shot just 7/22 from the field (32%). It was the latest chapter in what has become a troubling trend for Denver’s two-time MVP: stellar output volume, but inefficient shooting and a visible drop in rhythm.
Jokic didn’t deflect after the loss. Asked about his shooting struggles, he offered an honest assessment:
“I mean, it’s a little bit of everything. They’re playing really good defense on me, they’re really—into my body, handsy, physical, and I think I missed like two, three open looks tonight, so it’s a little bit of everything.”
He emphasized the Thunder’s physicality and tactical discipline: shrinking the floor, putting a defender behind him in the post, and turning every shot into a grind. That pressure is clearly working — Jokic is now 21/63 (33.3%) from the field over the last three games, including a brutal 0/10 from three in Game 3.
Interim head coach David Adelman didn’t shy away from discussing Jokić’s uncharacteristic numbers:
“He’s frustrated. When they get under the block, there’s contact, he knows what to do, but he doesn’t get fouled. He watches tape, but 10/25 from the paint is not good…”
Even in a winnable Game 4, Denver collapsed offensively — shooting 31.3% overall, converting just 10/25 inside the paint, and committing a critical five-second violation in the final minutes.
Jokic himself called it a turning point:
“That was a big, big play… It’s literally everybody. That cannot happen.”
Early Series Domination Fades
In Game 1, Jokic looked unstoppable, scoring 42 points on 51.7% shooting. But since then, his rhythm has been off — both in isolation and team flow.
Denver managed to survive his off night in Game 3 thanks to Aaron Gordon’s 22 points and Michael Porter Jr.’s 21, but when Porter could barely lift his injured shoulder in Game 4 (finishing with 3 points), the margin for error vanished.
Adelman summed up the team’s malaise and the effect on Jokic:
“I thought we got a bit worn down in the fourth… Sometimes we can’t score and it affects us. Nothing was going, it didn’t affect the energy. It wasn’t interesting to watch the first half, and then everything changed in the third quarter… They are in the zone, 15 rebounds on offense, we have to prevent that. We were not good enough to win.”
With the series tied and Game 5 historically deciding over 80% of playoff series, Jokićcs return to form is urgent. If Denver hopes to defend its title, their MVP has to start hitting like one.