-
Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON – After Nikola Jokic scored 43 of Denver’s 99 points, which ended in a 112-99 defeat for the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, Nuggets coach Mike Malone said Jokic’s teammates should do more to help them superstar center to support.
“It’s no longer gas,” Malone said. Jokic scored just four of the 43 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night. ‘He needs help … We’re playing a rugby game [Wednesday], and every night Nikola goes out there and literally puts this team on its back. He just needs a few guys to get up and help him. ‘
The Nuggets – who played Tuesday without three starters (Gary Harris, Will Barton and Paul Millsap) and two other rotation players (sixth man Monte Morris and wing PJ Dozier) – did not give Jokic much against the Celtics. It hardly mattered, as Jokic made all six shots in the first quarter for 15 points, before adding 14 in the second quarter and another 10 in the third quarter.
But after re-entering the fourth game, he looks tired and misses some clean looks that could have reached him within a second 50-point game this season, as he still considers himself one of the frontrunners for the MVP. award.
It was for the rest of the Nuggets not nearly as pleasant of a night. Jamal Murray shot well and finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but he made a career-high 9 times – more than half of Denver’s 17 assists.
And while point guard Facundo Campazzo was impressive in his first career, with 15 points and eight assists in a game-high 40 minutes, the rest of the Nuggets were overall 8-for-23 off the field, including 0-for-15 from 3- point series.
“Jamal tried to get it going, but he can’t have nine turnovers on the road if we wait to start,” Malone said. “And he knows it. Other guys have to find ways to contribute. But it speaks to how well Nikola plays. He leaves it out there every night. That’s why he’s obviously a candidate for MVP, but it can ‘t just be. one man in this league.You need others to act and contribute, and hopefully we get it [Wednesday] night. ‘
Murray and Jokic went out of their way not to criticize their teammates who played, which selected Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton from the first round, saying they believe the players on the court are good enough to win .
And in Murray’s case, he got the blame for the loss.
“Very winning game,” Murray said. “It really does not matter so much who’s there. It’s just the little details that hurt us a little bit … I put this game on me because I do not think I’ve ever had it nine times. [That’s] nine plays, nine possessions we could have had. ‘
It was a very ugly game for Denver’s opening forwards, Michael Porter Jr. and JaMychal Green. Together, they took 1-for-15 off the field in a total of 53 minutes, including 0-for-7 from 3-point series.
Porter has now been a combined 2-for-18 on 3-points for the past three games.
“I can not make shots,” Malone said. “It’s one thing I can’t do off the bench. I mean, Michael Porter has hit the ball back, but at the moment, in the last five, six, seven games, he’s really struggling to make shots, especially from the 3-point line.We know he will bounce back.He is too good of a shooter not to do so.He just needs to make sure that, when shots do not go in, what else can I do to keep my team help? JaMychal Green, same thing.He gets nice looks, has some shots that went in and out, around the basket from 3, we just have to stay with guys.
“As long as they look good, I want the guys to keep shooting the ball, and if we can generate some easy things, we should obviously get to the fault line, maybe that will help their confidence as well.”
Jokic shrugged when asked if he was getting frustrated at the inability of his teammates to produce.
“No I’m not [frustrated]”he said.” We know, especially today, this is a very different series. … I think it’s just a different kind of game for everyone right now. But we have to adapt. Everyone must act. ‘