Nikola Jokic Says 'It Was One Team Playing' in Nuggets' 43-Point Loss to SGA, Thunder

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić didn't mince words about the Denver Nuggets' effort during their blowout loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night.

Speaking to reporters after Denver's 149-106 defeat, Jokić said: "Basically, it was one team playing tonight. They were aggressive; they were going by us. They were much, much better than us today and that's why the score is so bad."

After the Nuggets shocked the Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of the series, OKC had an emphatic answer in Game 2, essentially running Denver off the court.

Eight Thunder players scored double-digit points, including MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led all scorers with 34 points on 11-of-13 shooting to go along with eight assists and four rebounds.

As for Jokić, he struggled mightily following his 42-point, 22-rebound effort in Game 1, recording 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting, plus eight rebounds and six assists. He also turned the ball over a game-high six times.

While SGA had a plus-51 rating when he was on the floor, Jokić had a minus-36, which was the worst mark of his career, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said his team got "punked," and it's difficult to argue with his assessment.

OKC dominated in all facets, shooting 56.2 percent from the field and holding Denver to 37.9 percent shooting. The Thunder also made 33 of their 36 free-throw attempts, including Gilgeous-Alexander going 11-for-11.

The Thunder also had only nine turnovers compared to Denver's 20, and they won the rebounding battle 44-38.

Oklahoma City showed why it was the best team during the regular season with a 68-14 record, forcing the Nuggets to regroup and consider a different approach.

The series will now shift to Denver where the Nuggets will host the Thunder in Game 3 on Friday night.