One Nuggets star believes Nikola Jokic is not getting the right type of treatment from the officials.
The Denver Nuggets may have won Game 1 against a well-rested Oklahoma City Thunder, but they had to know a revenge game was coming.
And last night was exactly that game, as the Thunder defeated the Nuggets by 43 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned a lot of praise from fans for his performance.
If last night’s game was a sign of how this series is going to go, things could get ugly for the Nuggets in the following weeks.
Aaron Gordon made a promise to Russell Westbrook to win him a championship. But right now, he is more upset about another MVP teammate.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
Aaron Gordon on Nikola Jokic being fouled
During the game, Nikola Jokic fouled out in the third quarter and exited the game. But according to Aaron Gordon, the calls should have been going in his favor.
Gordon believes that Jokic is being fouled by the OKC Thunder players, but those players are not being called for any infractions.
“All types of stuff they’re doing to him that’s not necessarily legal. There’s not much you can do… Jok will play through it (but) they’re fouling the guy. They’re calling the second foul every time. They’re fouling Jokić first.”
Gordon has the right to complain, especially given how physical things have gotten between the two sides. Jokic has been embracing the physicality, but he has suffered in terms of getting calls.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
Jokic must be the X-Factor in this series
Nikola Jokic is one of, if not the most talented, players in Denver Nuggets history. The multiple-time MVP has the capacity to change a game with his mere presence.
It is going to take the best version of Jokic to topple this young and hungry OKC Thunder side. They are just far too strong for the Nuggets to overcome.
If Jokic can play at a high level for the rest of the series, it will elevate the level of play of the rest of the Nuggets.
But is that asking too much of Jokic? He is a superstar extraordinaire and elevates everyone around him. However, Jokic is not a miracle worker and can’t do it all alone.