Nikola Jokic gave it everything. Again. Thirty-three points. Twelve rebounds. Nine assists. But on April 4, it still wasn’t enough. Denver lost to Golden State 118-104, and by the end of it, Jokic, usually calm and composed, slammed a water bottle in frustration. Jokic’s frustration makes absolute sense. He had thrown everything on the court. He opened the game with 15 first-quarter points, powering Denver to a double-digit lead. But when he sat to start the second, that cushion vanished. The Warriors clawed back instantly, and Jokic returned to find a game completely changed.
But the frustration ran deeper than that. His message was clear; Something’s not clicking. And Coach Michael Malone knew exactly where the problem started. After the game, Michael Malone peeled back the curtain to give us a peek into their issues. His critique wasn’t about shooting percentages or missed assignments—it was mental. “I told our players this morning, this afternoon, pregame, halftime, and just now—that since the trade, they have the number one defense in the NBA,” Malone said, referring to Golden State. “They lead the league in steals per game, they lead in points off turnovers in that stretch, and they had 14 steals tonight. We were playing in a crowd, making bad passes, not fully understanding who we’re playing against and what their defensive game plan is, and just making careless mistakes over and over again.”
Golden State didn’t just take advantage, they ended up controlling the chaos. Their defense forced 25 turnovers and created constant pressure. Stephen Curry poured in 36. Jimmy Butler added 19 and five steals. They outpaced Denver in offensive rebounds and three-point volume. It was a masterclass in capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes.
Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets bench pic.twitter.com/5QqW2APupq
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 5, 2025
Malone, however, had more to say. “They took 88 shots tonight, we took 74—that happens very often, but when you look at the field goal attempts differential, we’re on the losing end. This is a possession battle, and through turnovers and rebounds, we’re giving them extra possessions. We’re just getting our butts kicked in the possession battle right now.”
And now? The Nuggets’ playoff road might be getting bumpier still. Here’s how.
What’s next for a slipping contender?
This wasn’t just one loss—it was Denver’s fifth in their last nine games. And with the postseason looming, the margin for error has evaporated. The loss dropped them to the fourth seed in the West, losing ground to the surging Lakers and pulling the Warriors within half a game. What looked like a lock for home-court advantage in the first round? Now up for grabs.
And Jamal Murray’s absence still hangs heavy. The star guard has missed four straight games with a hamstring issue, and while the Nuggets hope to have him back soon, soft-tissue injuries don’t follow a fixed script. Without him, Denver’s offense becomes Jokic-or-bust. But for how long? Even Jokic’s brilliance can’t keep hiding the cracks. Not anymore. The viral pass to Westbrook might’ve lit up the internet, but it underscored a more sobering reality: Denver’s dependency on Jokic is both their greatest strength and growing vulnerability.
THIS JOKIC DIME IS CRAZY.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 5, 2025
Rotation decisions have also raised eyebrows. Russell Westbrook got the start again despite questions about spacing. Young guard Jalen Pickett notched his first career triple-double the night before but saw a reduced role. Malone has preached trust, but with the playoffs on the horizon, that trust will need results. Fast.
The good news? Denver’s next two games are at home. But matchups with Indiana and Memphis won’t be easy, and the final two games on the road—against Sacramento and Houston—could decide whether they enter the playoffs as a top-four seed or tumble into a dreaded fifth spot. No one wants to face this Warriors team again in a first-round matchup without home court.
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