May 9, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game three of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Nikola Jokic's Brutally Honest Admission After Nuggets-Thunder Game 3

Originally posted on Denver Nuggets on SI | By Grant Mona | Last updated May 10, 2025 5:33 PM ET

If Nikola Jokic's "worst" performance is a 20-point, 6-rebound performance to take a 2-1 series lead, then the Denver Nuggets are in great shape. Jokic was very critical of his performance even in the overtime thriller that gave the Nuggets their first win at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Basically, I was the worst player on the court today.Nikola Jokic after Game 3

The Nuggets got major contributions from their role players, with 4 players scoring 20 points or more to lift them to a huge victory in overtime.

Statistically, Jokic had the worst playoff game of his career, including career-lows in True Shooting Percentage, turnovers, missed threes, and the second-most missed shots in a game.

Jokic career-lows tonight:

— Worst TS% in a playoff game
— Most turnovers in a playoff game
— Most missed threes in a playoff game
— 2nd most missed shots in a playoff game

and the Nuggets won the game. pic.twitter.com/lS6iqsccgZ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 10, 2025

On the opposite side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had one of his worst games of the entire season, with 18 points on 7-for-22 shooting.

So with both stars having some of their lowest efficiency games of the season, it was the Nuggets' championship core that held down the scoring punch, outplaying the Thunder down the stretch.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OT:
0 PTS
0 FGA
0 FTA
0 AST
0 REB

Nuggets outscore Thunder 11-2 in OT, lead series 2-1.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 10, 2025

If the Thunder are going to tie the series, Gilgeous-Alexander is going to need to take over games with the way Denver's role players have elevated their performances in the playoffs.

A pivotal Game 4 between the Nuggets and Thunder is at 3:30 p.m. EST. The Nuggets have a surreal chance to put Oklahoma City in a 3-1 hole.

This article first appeared on Denver Nuggets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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