After being blown out by the Golden State Warriors in Games 1 and 2 of the NBA playoffs' opening round, the Denver Nuggets turned in their first competitive fourth quarter of the series Thursday night, albeit in a 118-113 losing effort to dig themselves a magma-core-of-the-Earth-deep 3-0 hole.
Of the Nuggets adjustments that worked: giving the ball to presumptive NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. A lot. Jokic finished with a series-high 37 points and 18 rebounds, hitting 14 of 22 shots to go along with nine trips to the charity stripe (he made seven free throws).
Of the Nuggets adjustments that did not work: asking Denver forward Aaron Gordon to guard Golden State's guards, starting with honorary Splash Brother Jordan Poole.