Is Nikola Jokic playing tonight, March 14, against the Toronto Raptors?
The Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets face the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena, with both teams seeking to end three-game losing streaks, on Tuesday.
Jokic dropped an impressive triple-double statline of 35 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists in a 122-120 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The Toronto Raptors lost 122-112 to a Los Angeles Lakers team that was without LeBron James on Friday.
Nikola Jokic's status for tonight's game
Nikola Jokic will be available to play Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors after logging 39 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets.
For the season, Jokic is averaging 24.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists while shooting 62.8%, including 40.8% from 3-point range. Against the Raptors, Jokic has averaged 18.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists in his career.
During the Denver Nuggets' 3-game losing streak, Nikola Jokic has averaged 30.0 ppg, 14.3 rpg and 10.0 apg. The Nuggets (46-22), who are first in the Western Conference, have still won six of their last 10 games.
In Sunday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Denver led by 10 after halftime but was outscored by 25 points and lost for just the sixth time on their home court this season.
Mikal Bridges led the way for the Brooklyn Nets with 25 points. The Denver Nuggets defense was questionable throughout the game, as they allowed the Nets to shoot 50.0%, including 38.6% from three-point land.
For the season, the Denver Nuggets are the NBA's 16th-ranked defense with a defensive rating of 113.5. But in their last three games, they are the 26th-ranked defense with a defensive rating of 123.6, a huge decline as they have somewhat built a defensive identity before their rough stretch of losses.
Amid the losing streak, many are questioning Nikola Jokic's case for the MVP award. With a recent set of videos highlighting his questionable defensive efforts during the team's three-game skid, it has not done him any favors in his MVP campaign.
Be that as it may, the Denver Nuggets can still get back to their winning ways starting in their matchup against the Toronto Raptors. They have 14 games remaining in the regular season before the playoffs begin. A strong finish to the regular season and Nikola Jokic continuing his efficient performances from here on will bode well for his MVP run.