It only took one game. That’s all it took for the LA Clippers to crack the Denver Nuggets. One game, and Ty Lue’s squad knew exactly how to exploit them. Suddenly, it all unraveled for Nikola Jokic and the gang. So, what’s behind the two straight playoff losses? Is it Malone’s absence or an injury-riddled Denver stumbling under pressure?

Triple-doubles are a piece of cake for the Serbian superstar now; he’s walking in Brodie’s path in this case. In the last three games, Jokic scored a double-double in the  Nuggets’ last win. Then, two consecutive triple-doubles led to nothing but a loss. What’s the point of such stellar scores when winning the game feels distant? However, there is a bigger problem straight from Denver’s locker room, and it’s the injury reports that are reducing the Joker’s support on the court.

Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Tim MacMahon shared some really troubling updates for the Nuggets fans. Denver is coming off that 34-point loss to the Clippers, now down 2-1 in this series. What’s happening behind closed doors here? “Well, there aren’t a lot of good things happening right now with the Denver Nuggets. Look, the injuries are absolutely a factor here,” the NBA insider informed.

“Michael Porter Jr. can’t even lift his left arm. Russell Westbrook is dealing with a foot injury. Aaron Gordon’s been dealing with the calf all season long.” Brodie left the court in the second quarter of Game 3 due to foot inflammation. Meanwhile, MPJ suffered a scary injury when Clippers guard Kris Dunn landed on him while fighting for a loose ball in Game 2. Now, Nikola Jokic‘s warrior, Aaron Gordon, is dealing with his calf for a while. It’s not a great situation, as you can guess, but there’s more to the story.

Tim MacMahon added, “But look, when they fired Michael Malone, that did not get rid of all the bad vibes with the Denver Nuggets. There are absolutely things going on in that locker room. There’s a lot of frustration within that locker room.” It looks like a lot is going on within the Denver Nuggets locker room, which also might be a reason why Jokic has been so vocal with his team. Who knows, there’s a mist of mystery around the franchise right now. And, no, firing Mike Malone didn’t resolve the troubles!

Meanwhile, a looming problem with Russell Westbrook might be the next headache. Things are far from smooth for the Nuggets right now.

Amidst Nikola Jokic’s locker room troubles, a new Russell Westbrook storm brews

Lately, Brodie hasn’t been happy with how the team is utilizing him on the court. He has complained of inconsistent minutes, sometimes he’s starting the game, and sometimes he’s coming off the bench. Moreover, he’s playing longer in some games, while in others his minutes are snipped, especially when Jamal Murray is back.

So, MacMahon adds to the story and says: “Russell Westbrook has expressed frustration behind the scenes with his role, with what he feels is inconsistent playing time. They just got spanked by the LA Clippers. Obviously, they need to respond to that to be able to make this a real series.”

Inconsistency is the name of the game here. It’s a mix of Murray’s health, the Nuggets’ shaky offense, and Westbrook‘s unpredictable play. The big question: Can Denver rely on Westbrook in clutch moments? His up-and-down performances and head-scratching decisions leave room for doubt.

However, Nikola Jokic is balling out, but even the Joker can’t juggle all of Denver’s issues. Injuries, locker room troubles, and Westbrook’s drama—it’s messy. If they don’t find a way to fix it fast, this series will slip through their fingers quicker than you can say “triple-double.”