Nikola Jokić delivered a career-high 56 points, but his remarkable performance was overshadowed by a disappointing loss to the Washington Wizards, who snapped their 16-game losing streak with a 122-113 victory on Saturday night. Despite Jokić’s outstanding stat line that also included 16 rebounds and eight assists, the Denver Nuggets couldn’t overcome a team that had not won since October.
“It’s really bad for us,” Jokić said after the game. “We are really going in the wrong direction. I think it’s everybody’s fault.” His frustration was evident, and even with his personal achievement, he showed little joy in the result. The Nuggets have now lost two consecutive games and have failed to win back-to-back games in nearly a month. With their current form, Denver would be a play-in team if the season ended today.
Jokić, who took a career-high 38 shots in the game, was forced to carry the load for Denver with key players like Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Dario Saric unavailable due to injuries. “I was forcing at the end,” Jokić admitted. His 56 points came in a loss, much like his previous career-high 50-point game, which also ended in a defeat to Sacramento in February 2021.
The Nuggets had cut a 12-point halftime deficit to just six, thanks to Jokić’s 23-point third quarter, but the Washington Wizards responded, extending their lead back into double digits once Jokić rested. The Wizards outscored Denver by eight when Jokić was off the court and by just one when he was on the floor.
Washington Wizards’ Jordan Poole led the way for his team, scoring 39 points, including nine three-pointers, while Justin Champagnie added a career-high 23 points. Jonas Valanciunas also had a solid performance, finishing with 20 points and providing tough inside play against Jokić.
Head coach Mike Malone shouldered much of the blame for the loss, saying, “I’m doing a really poor job with this team. For us to be 11-10 at this point and losing to a team that last five games is averaging a hundred points a game and they put up 122 on us, I’m embarrassed by that.”
Despite the loss, Jokić’s efforts served as a reminder of his exceptional talent, but the lack of support and defensive struggles have the Nuggets searching for answers as their season continues.
