Nikola Jokic has faced challenges in recent playoff games, with his performance in the Nuggets’ latest matchup drawing scrutiny. Following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder that tied their second-round playoff series at 2-2, former NBA star Charles Barkley voiced his concerns regarding the NBA’s scheduling for the Denver Nuggets, particularly the timing of their games.
Barkley highlighted that the Nuggets were made to play a late game on Friday night before facing off again just over 15 hours later on Sunday afternoon. “I thought what the NBA did to [the Nuggets] was unfair,” Barkley stated during a TNT broadcast, indicating that the early Sunday game negatively impacted Jokic and the team’s performance. Kenny Smith, his fellow analyst, responded that both teams dealt with the same schedule, but Barkley pointed out that the Thunder had greater depth, which could give them an advantage in such tight turnarounds.
Jokic’s struggles became evident during this stretch; he had disappointing shooting percentages across the last three games, including a tough outing against the Thunder where he scored 27 points but shot only 7-for-22 from the field. His recent performances contrast sharply with his MVP-caliber season, where he averaged an impressive triple-double and set career highs in points, assists, and three-point shooting.
The Nuggets have had success in the playoffs, evidenced by their seven-game series win against the Clippers, where Jokic performed admirably. However, the ongoing concern about their bench depth echoes Barkley’s prior critiques, which he believes may affect Jokic’s ability to maintain his performance levels in high-stakes situations.
As the series now shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Tuesday night, the Nuggets and their star player will look to regain momentum and respond to the recent setbacks. The potential for Jokic to bounce back remains, given his history of performing well in critical games. With the right adjustments and support from his teammates, there is hope for a turnaround that could lead Denver deeper into the playoffs.