This has not been Nikola Jokic’s finest hour, but according to Charles Barkley, the NBA has not done the Nuggets superstar any favors.
The three-time MVP has struggled over the last three games, including Sunday’s Game 4 loss to the Thunder, which tied their second-round playoff series 2-2.
But Barkley, the TNT analyst, feels the NBA did Denver dirty by scheduling them for a Sunday afternoon game (1:30 p.m. MST) after they played Friday night (8 p.m. MST).
“I thought what the NBA did to [the Nuggets] was unfair,” Barkley said on the air Sunday, as captured by Awful Announcing. “Making them play late Friday night, then an early afternoon game. I thought that was unfair, I truly believe that.”
Kenny Smith interjected to say both teams had to deal with the same situation.
“Yeah, but [the Thunder] have more depth. OKC got 12 players,” Barkley replied. “Denver has never addressed their backup center situation or their bench. I think that’s one of the things that hurt them last year, because he gave out of gas last year against Rudy [Gobert] and big KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns]. So I don’t think it’s fair to blame everything on the Joker, but he has not played well and I think he’s wearing down.”
Barkley was referencing the Nuggets’ seven-game, second-round loss to the Timberwolves in last year’s playoffs.
Jokic, 30, shot just 7-for-22, including 2-for-8 from deep, in Denver’s 92-87 loss on Sunday, though he still finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four steals.
He made just 8 of 25 shots in the Nuggets’ Game 3 overtime win and was 6 of 16 in their Game 2 loss.
That came after Jokic was 15-for-29 with 42 points and 22 rebounds as Denver stole Game 1 on the road.
Jokic had another MVP-like regular season, averaging a triple-double for the first time in his career and setting career-highs with averages of 29.6 points and 10.2 assists, adding 12.7 rebounds per game. He also shot a career-best 41.7 percent from 3-point range.
During Denver’s seven-game, first-round win over the Clippers, Jokic shot 50 percent from the field and averaged 24 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists.
Game 5 is back in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
