Nuggets franchise superstar Nikola Jokic was as blunt as he’s been all season following Saturday’s dispiriting loss to the Suns. He was critical of the team’s effort and irritated that they had played like they could waltz over last-place Phoenix.
And then on Sunday, prior to the Nuggets’ matchup against the Blazers, he sensed something similar happening again.
“To be honest, I thought in the warm-ups we were kind of loose,” Jokic said. “We were not focused.”
That attitude preempted his forthcoming assault on the Blazers, a potpourri of post moves, 3-pointers and assists that buried Portland and left former teammate Jusuf Nurkic in his wake.