Nikola Jokic’s uncharacteristic shooting struggles got worse before they got better Friday at Ball Arena.

After Jokic made just 9 of his 32 shots (28.1%), the worst shooting performance of his eight-year NBA career, against the Clippers on Wednesday, the two-time Most Valuable Player and reigning Finals MVP missed all five of his first-quarter attempts Friday against the Rockets. He made his sixth shot, a driving layup in the middle of the second quarter but missed his final four attempts of the first half, making him 10 for 41 in a six-quarter span.

“I took the shots I always take, so I didn’t shoot, I think, any crazy shots or whatever,” Jokic said in the postgame locker room after Denver’s 114-106 loss to Houston. “The ball just didn’t want to go in.”

Jokic’s first two attempts were his patented floater from just outside the restricted area. Then he drove past Alperen Sengun for a left-handed layup that came off the back iron. Neither of his two tip-in attempts went down, either. His other four first-half misses were a short push shot, another floater, a put-back bank shot and a wide-open 3 from the top of the key. He went 8 of 16 after halftime to finish 9 for 26 (34.6%) with a team-high 24 points, 16 rebounds and five assists. Wednesday, he posted his ninth triple-double of the season despite the shooting slump.

“Heavy is the head that wears the crown. A lot is being asked of him every night. To score, to rebound, to defend, to play-make, to be a leader, and he’s never shied away from it,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Denver’s first home loss of the season. “That’s one thing that I love about Nikola. He didn’t play his greatest game tonight, but he’s out there fighting. Never quit.”

Despite 23 of his 26 shots coming in the lane, Jokic shot just seven free throws. Wednesday, he got to the line twice despite taking 32 shots, most of which were inside the paint.

“Everybody’s playing physical, it seems like,” Jokic answered when asked if the Rockets were especially tough with him Friday.

The officiating frustrated the Nuggets throughout the night, but things boiled over in the fourth. After the Nuggets cut a 25-point deficit to 11 with 4 minutes to go, Michael Porter Jr. was assessed a technical foul before Jamal Murray was hit with two in three basketball seconds and ejected in the final minute. For Murray, Denver’s issues started with rebounding and continued with Houston’s 40-point third quarter. No fingers were pointed toward Jokic despite the shooting struggles.

“I don’t know what player has a bad game after a triple-double. He’s doing everything he can. Not every night is going to go your way. I think we did a great job staying in it,” Murray said.

“Keep playing the same game. It doesn’t matter. I hit him in the pocket, he misses a floater, it’s a good shot. If he kicks out and Mike misses an open 3, it’s a good shot.”

Jokic felt like most of his looks the last couple of games were good ones. The player who says he never changes his approach when things are going well stayed consistent when shots weren’t falling. Malone mentioned that he could lighten Jokic’s load after the Nuggets star played 33 or more minutes for the eighth consecutive game, but he knows what’s coming if he attempts to make life easier on his star during this tough stretch.

“I got to find ways to maybe get Nikola some rest and lessen his burden,” Malone said. “But knowing him and how tough he is, he won’t want that. He won’t even want to hear it.”