Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic schooled the Washington Wizards on Saturday with a career-high in the scoring department. Jokic had 56 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists following a 122-113 loss against the bottom team in the Eastern Conference.
The Serbian big man was unstoppable inside the 3-point arc as he shot 57.9% from the field. From beyond the arc, Jokic made 60% of his five attempts. No one in the Washington team could stop the big man from dominating.
While no one on the Wizards team could stop him, Jokic’s teammates couldn’t help him get the win. The second-highest scorer in the game was Julian Strawther, who came off the bench and had 18 points on 53.8% shooting from the field.
Aside from Strawther, only two Nuggets players scored at least double-digits Christian Braun (14 points) and Micahel Porter Jr. (11 points). Jokic addressed the team’s loss after the game and wants the squad to have “a reaction.”
“A reaction,” Jokic said about what the team needs to bounce back. “In my country, where I’m coming from, after this kind of stretch you’re gonna get a paycheck that is a little bit less than you are worth. So maybe that’s what we need to do. Maybe a little motivation that way.”
Following their loss, SiriusXM radio host Justin Termine went online to share his disappointment. Termine went to X (formerly Twitter) and criticized the Nuggets’ effort in the game.
“The Nuggets organization should be ashamed of what they’ve done to the prime of Nikola Jokic,” the radio host said. “Hopefully they’ll start to be called out more by the national media & hopefully reporters will start asking those in charge tough questions. Shameful.”
The Nuggets organization should be ashamed of what they've done to the prime of Nikola Jokic.
Hopefully they'll start to be called out more by the national media & hopefully reporters will start asking those in charge tough questions.
Shameful.
— Justin Termine (@TermineRadio) December 8, 2024
The Nuggets have lost two games in a row and have a chance to bounce back from their back-to-back losses on Sunday. They’ll go up against the red-hot Atlanta Hawks, who have won their last six games.
Fans react to Nikola Jokic’s big game against the Wizards
Despite the loss, fans still rallied behind Nikola Jokic’s career performance.
“Somebody please give this man the MVP already it’s a done deal he’s won it,” a fan said about the MVP race.
“Bro at this point put me in, I’d help Jokic more,” another fan said about Jokic’s lack of help.
“If one of his teammates could’ve landed a few threes that’d have helped 🤦♂️” one fan said.
If one of his teammates could’ve landed a few threes that’d have helped 🤦♂️
— Greg Solon (@gregsolon) December 8, 2024
“People will look at this and think it’s normal because of how often he does it 😭”
“He’s already the MVP lol. He’s playing better every single season”
“Jokic goes for a career high 58 and loses. What’s up with the rest of that team.”
Jokic goes for a career high 58 and loses. What’s up with the rest of that team. When’s the last time a player won MVP and his team didn’t make the playoffs just curious
— Tom Sears (@LurkinTomGaming) December 8, 2024
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
