Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

OKLAHOMA CITY — It wasn’t all bad in a fourth straight loss to the Thunder.

Aaron Gordon got his groove back in another narrow defeat to the champs.

“It’s a shame he’s just coming back,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after a 129-126 loss Monday at Paycom Center. “I think that would’ve been a 40-point night.”

Gordon was on pace for a lot more than a 40 piece, scoring 19 of his 23 points in the first seven minutes of the game. He did it around the rim, at the free-throw line and behind the arc against a Thunder team that was without its regular starting forwards – Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren – a reversal of Denver’s injury luck. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and had three assists.

“Just trying to set the tone physically, dominate my matchup. I know they’re shorthanded,” Gordon said.

“I’m trying to impose my will or impose my physicality with better energy, better decision making.”

The 30-year-old had his playing time increased from 21 minutes in his first game back from another hamstring strain to 28 minutes Monday, right about his limit. The Nuggets coach said Gordon would not have played in overtime.

“I feel good. I’m happy to be back — gracious,” Gordon said before answering if he feels up to playing his regular workload around 30 minutes.

“I feel I’m ready, but it’s on the coaching and training staff now.”

Denver’s starting power forward also said the staff will have input when it comes to his availability in back-to-back sets. The Nuggets host the Rockets on Wednesday and travel to San Antonio for a game Thursday, two games against teams that are ahead of the Nuggets in the standings.

Gordon’s performance wasn’t the only positive. The Nuggets committed just seven turnovers, and Nikola Jokic was the only player with multiple. Four of Denver’s starters won their minutes with Christian Braun (minus-2) being the exception. Gordon’s plus-14 performance in 28 minutes was the most promising and provided hope that better days are to come for the individual and the collective.

“It’s been a frustrating season, personally, just because I haven’t been able to be out there and battle with my guys and offload some of the responsibility on both ends of the floor,” Gordon said.

What I’m thinking

If the goal is what Jokic and the Nuggets say, it’s time to cede the Most Valuable Player race and individual honors.

Denver’s only chance to win a championship is a rested and healthy Jokic. His odds to win a fourth MVP became even longer after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-winner Monday, and it’s time to let that dream die in favor of keeping the title hopes alive.

Sure, the stat lines are still gaudy, but there are other signs he’s not at the level the Nuggets need him to be in the playoffs.

The three-time Most Valuable Player shot 31% from 3 in February and is only connecting on 28% to start March. In the last two months, Jokic twice has committed nine turnovers with six more games with five or more turnovers. Denver is 2-6 in those games with the wins coming against the Grizzlies and Lakers. The losses are to the types of teams standing between Denver and a second championship — the Thunder (Feb. 1), Pistons, Cavaliers, Clippers, Warriors and Timberwolves.

The effort on the defensive end has been the most alarming. That looks like a byproduct of fatigue. Jokic says he feels like he’s in good shape after missing a month, the longest absence of his NBA career, but he’s clearly not at his best.

Getting him to take a breather in the final month of the season won’t be easy for multiple reasons. He can only miss one more game and remain eligible for the end-of-season awards due to the league’s rule that players must play in 65 games to be eligible.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s a rule, and you should play by the rules,” Jokic said Monday.

“I want to play every game.”

A 4-6 record since the All-Star break leaves the Nuggets in sixth place in the Western Conference heading into Tuesday’s games. The Nuggets are only a game and a half clear of Phoenix for the final spot in the top six. It feels like seeding is going to be on the line in each of Denver’s final 17 games. Included are three back-to-backs, all of which require travel. As weird as it sounds, the Nuggets have a proven ability to hold their own without Jokic this season.

The Nuggets’ coach has preferred the long view over immediate overreactions. It’s time for someone to have a conversation with Jokic about playing the long game, even if he doesn’t want to hear it.

What they’re saying

Thunder wing Lu Dort apologized to Jokic after a second flagrant foul in as many games against the Nuggets, according to ESPN.

“Just lost in the competition, but shook his hand, (said) ‘great game’ and I apologized that that happened,” Dort told ESPN.

“I didn’t mean to hit him in the face, but when I go over screens and stuff like that, my arms are just everywhere, and then, unfortunately, I just hit him in the face. … I didn’t think it was a Flagrant 1. Unnecessary means I did it on purpose, which I didn’t.”

—Jamal Murray said he’s not planning to take any additional games off to give his sprained left ankle more time to recover.

“It’s OK. I just want to be on the court. I want to be playing, especially a game like this. It’s going to be high intensity. Guys playing as hard as they did, I want to be out there as well. I’m glad I was able to push through,” Murray said.

“I’m here now. We’re good to go.”

What I’m following

• After Golden State lost to the Jazz on Monday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr again said the NBA needs to reduce the number of regular-season games.
• Luka Doncic rubbed his fingers together like there was a wad of money in his hand after not getting a call Sunday against the Knicks. The NBA fined the Lakers star $50,000 for the gesture.
• One of the more unique promotions around the association is no more. The NBA canceled the Hawks’ plans to have a “Magic City Night,” a celebration of an Atlanta strip club, on March 16 against Orlando. The NBA said the decision was made in response to concerns from many around the league.
• The Hornets sent Miami a second-round pick in this year’s draft to resolve a dispute after the Heat acquired Terry Rozier from Charlotte in a 2024 trade. Rozier has been unable to play amid a federal investigation into a gambling conspiracy.