Imagine being your team’s superstar, leading almost every game you play in one or the other aspect, and still, your team keeps dropping in the standings. Coming off of one of the best games on Tuesday, the Serbian dropped an NBA-record 61 points triple-double on the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the conclusion? In a double OT game where the former MVP played a total of 53 minutes, the Denver Nuggets lost. Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center was also no different.

Again, he gave it everything– 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, another performance just shy of a triple-double. But on Friday, it still wasn’t enough. Denver lost to Golden State 118-104 despite a strong showing in the opening quarter. By the end of it, Jokic, usually calm and composed, slammed a water bottle in frustration to the ground while sounding off at his teammates on the bench. And it is understandable.

He opened the game with 15 first-quarter points, powering Denver to a double-digit lead of 44-34. But when he sat in the second, that cushion vanished. The Warriors clawed back instantly, and Jokic returned to find a game completely changed. Underneath the frustration was his clear message: 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 points and the new addition Jimmy Butler added 19 points with five steals. They outpaced Denver in offensive rebounds (11 to 7) and three-point shooting (38.7% for the Nuggets to GSW’s 42.1%).

Malone further added, “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.”

Although in their loss to the Spurs, both the teams had almost equal attempts, the contrast was day and night in the Minnesota game. The Timberwolves made 111 attempts, shooting 52. On the other hand, while the Nuggets had a better shooting percentage at 54.7%, they only took 86 shots, making 47 of them.

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 is now up for grabs. The pain is only exaggerated by Jamal Murray’s absence which 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 where Nikola made an over the head sly pass, but it underscored a more sobering reality: Denver’s dependency on Jokic is both their greatest strength and growing vulnerability.

Additionally, 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 and 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. Will the Nuggets find their feet with the postseason looming? Only time will tell.