This has not been Nikola Jokic’s most interesting hour, however in accordance with Charles Barkley, the NBA has not performed the Nuggets famous person any favors.
The three-time MVP has struggled during the last three video games, together with Sunday’s Recreation 4 loss to the Thunder, which tied their second-round playoff sequence 2-2.
However Barkley, the TNT analyst, feels the NBA did Denver soiled by scheduling them for a Sunday afternoon recreation (1:30 p.m. MST) after they performed Friday evening (8 p.m. MST).
“I believed what the NBA did to [the Nuggets] was unfair,” Barkley stated on the air Sunday, as captured by Terrible Saying. “Making them play late Friday evening, then an early afternoon recreation. I believed that was unfair, I really consider that.”
Kenny Smith interjected to say each groups needed to take care of the identical state of affairs.
“Yeah, however [the Thunder] have extra depth. OKC acquired 12 gamers,” Barkley replied. “Denver has by no means addressed their backup middle state of affairs or their bench. I believe that’s one of many issues that harm them final yr, as a result of he gave out of fuel final yr towards Rudy [Gobert] and large KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns]. So I don’t suppose it’s honest guilty every thing on the Joker, however he has not performed nicely and I believe he’s sporting down.”
Barkley was referencing the Nuggets’ seven-game, second-round loss to the Timberwolves in final yr’s playoffs.
Jokic, 30, shot simply 7-for-22, together with 2-for-8 from deep, in Denver’s 92-87 loss on Sunday, although he nonetheless completed with 27 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 steals.
He made simply 8 of 25 pictures within the Nuggets’ Recreation 3 additional time win and was 6 of 16 of their Recreation 2 loss.
That got here after Jokic was 15-for-29 with 42 factors and 22 rebounds as Denver stole Recreation 1 on the street.
Jokic had one other MVP-like common season, averaging a triple-double for the primary time in his profession and setting career-highs with averages of 29.6 factors and 10.2 assists, including 12.7 rebounds per recreation. He additionally shot a career-best 41.7 % from 3-point vary.
Throughout Denver’s seven-game, first-round win over the Clippers, Jokic shot 50 % from the sector and averaged 24 factors, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists.
Recreation 5 is again in Oklahoma Metropolis on Tuesday evening.
