DENVER — By the time media was allowed into the Denver Nuggets locker room on Thursday night, Jamal Murray had already left.
This left no opportunity to discuss his 4-of-13 shooting performance during the Nuggets’ 102-87 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, nor to address coach Michael Malone’s comment about the potential between Murray and new addition Russell Westbrook. Westbrook himself had a rough outing, hitting just 2 of 10 shots from the field, exemplifying his reputation as an historically poor shooter who continues to take shots.
Westbrook’s air ball on a 3-pointer late in the first quarter — with no defender nearby — marked a troubling start to their partnership, as he ultimately missed five of six attempts from beyond the arc. The Thunder dominated the game, with the Nuggets struggling significantly, converting only 7 of 38 attempts from long distance. The most concerning remark of the night came from Nikola Jokić, the centerpiece of the Nuggets.
“We are not a good shooting team, except probably (Michael Porter Jr.) and Jamal (Murray),” said Jokić, who recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds while shooting 6 of 12 (including 1 of 3 from three-point range). “All of us are kind of streaky. Not streaky, you know, but just average shooters.”
In a Nuggets environment where tension between Malone and general manager Calvin Booth is well known, Jokić’s candid statements about the team’s shooting struggles were significant. His comments subtly pointed to the front office during a challenging time as Booth’s team aims to restore the franchise as title contenders.
The internal issues reflect the changes that have occurred since the Nuggets won the championship in 2023. It should be noted that the ownership group, the Kroenke family, makes the final financial decisions for the team. Malone’s postgame comments highlighted the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free agency, suggesting the Nuggets are struggling to balance their current needs with past roster decisions.
“I don’t think there’s any need for panic,” Malone assured. “Going into the season, shooting is a concern of mine. You lose a guy like KCP, who was a 40 percent 3-point shooter. Christian Braun showed promise tonight, but he’s not going to fully replace KCP. I think we all have to understand that. But he played great defense and competed. … No, there’s no panic.”
The Nuggets are looking to bounce back against Westbrook’s former team, the LA Clippers, on Saturday, as the urgency to win increases amid concerns over their performance.
In the same game, the Thunder showcased impressive talent with coach Mark Daigneault acknowledging Jokić’s greatness while also emphasizing his own star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The mention of another potential star in Chet Holmgren was highlighted, as the second-year player had an outstanding debut, scoring 25 points on 11 of 18 shooting, along with 14 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and two steals. This performance, particularly after Holmgren missed his rookie season due to injury, indicates that he and Gilgeous-Alexander could be foundational pieces for the Thunder.
Despite the Nuggets’ challenges, Daigneault stressed that overlooking any team, including Denver, would be a mistake in a competitive Western Conference. His remarks underscored the importance of team synergy and how collective effort often leads to greater success than individual talent.
Yet, ultimately, it was the Thunder who impressively demonstrated their capabilities on the court.