Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic drops truth bomb on ‘great loss’ to Timberwolves

What do you say after losing by 45 points in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals if you are the Denver Nuggets, knowing that a win would have sent you to the Western Conference Finals? The Nuggets lost 110-75 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in what turned out to be a complete beatdown and collapse by the defending NBA champions. A 9-2 start to the game by Denver was quickly met by a 27-2 run by the Timberwolves, which the Nuggets were unable to fend off. Nikola Jokic, who was coming off of a masterful 40-point, 13-assist game in which he had zero turnovers, was held to 22 points, two assists, and three turnovers in Game 6 on Thursday.

This was certainly a learning experience for the Nuggets. After losing the first two games of this series to the Timberwolves in Denver, the Nuggets rattled off three straight victories and seemed to be in firm control of the series. Now, the first six games of this series no longer matter. One game is all that is left, and that one game will send either the Nuggets or Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals.

Nikola Jokic responds to Game 6 smack down

Even after losing by 45 points in what was a closeout game for the Nuggets, Jokic is simply brushing it off like its nothing. Some teams would be worried and on the edge of their seats after losing by so many points in what was their most important game of the season. That is not the case for Jokic and the Nuggets, as they are treating this defeat like any other loss over the course of the year.

“I think we shouldn’t. I think we need to let it sink in,” Jokic promptly responded after being asked if the team should forget this Game 6 loss via DNVR Sports. “It’s a great loss. They beat us. They destroyed us, and you should learn from it. We actually had them like 9-2, the score, right? It didn’t look good for them in that period. But since, it was a one-team show.

“I’m going to take this as a great loss.”

Jokic was simply left shaking his head during his postgame press conference, laughing at times with reporters due to the nature of the game. The Nuggets did start the game well on their 9-2 run, but the Timberwolves’ intensity throughout the first quarter was unmatched.

Minnesota simply wanted this game more, and that is why their 27-2 run turned into a 45-point victory by the end of the night. The Nuggets now return home, where another loss will see their season come to an end. This is Denver’s first true test as they look to defend their title. After this dreadful Game 6 loss in Minnesota, the Nuggets will be ready for the challenge ahead.

“They beat our a**. They were better than us in every segment of the game,” Jokic continued. “We need to accept it. Take it. And just try to be better next time. You know… When you lose by 45, it’s not something that happens every day. So, just accept it, you know? I am cool with it.”