This NBA season is not like others, and it’s full of surprises, but not all of them are pleasant. To set some context, the Denver Nuggets, who are a powerhouse in the Western Conference, found themselves on the wrong end of an unexpected defeat during a home game on Sunday.
Despite being a top-three seed with a record of (44-25), they fell to the struggling Washington Wizards in a shocking 126-123 loss. Fans didn’t hold back, roasting Nikola Jokić and the team for failing to put away one of the worst squads in the NBA. The memes and criticism flooded in, adding insult to injury.
Fans Brutally Roast Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets’ loss wasn’t just disappointing; it highlighted a concerning trend. One of the products of this trend was a meme carousel posted on Instagram, which showed that the Nuggets and the Charlotte Hornets were the only two teams this season to have been bested by the Washington Wizards, with the caption, “NBA is weird af.” For a reigning champion, that’s an unsettling statistic.
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What made this stat more disturbing for the Nuggets fans was that Jokić was the MVP last season, earning the honor for the third time. When you’re considered the best, losing to a bottom-tier team raises eyebrows, and so was the case here as one of the fans commented, “But people want to say that Jokić is the MVP.”
As mentioned before, Nuggets are one of the best teams in the NBA right now. They currently have a W-L% of (.638) and are potential playoff contenders. However, for the Nuggets, the Wizards seem to be that unexpected Achilles’ heel. A follower commented, “Every good team. Has his kryptonite,” referring to the popular DC character ‘Superman’, who, despite being immensely powerful, was vulnerable to a mere green rock.
The hits kept coming in unique ways, as one fan was quick to comment, “The MVP would never.” This was again a hit to the ‘Joker,’ who became MVP in 2021, 2022, and 2024 and a Finals MVP in 2023. This loss gave critics the ammunition to challenge Jokić’s bid for the league’s most prestigious individual honor.
However, while others were busy roasting Jokić and Co., some fans were quite lenient with the criticisms and even tried to lower the negative energy in the comment section. One fan commented, “Could be worse, you coulda lost to the Hornets,” whereas another user explained, “I’m a Nuggets fan, but that’s what I love most about the NBA. It’s not like the NFL where it’s like, ‘Ah, the Chiefs are playing the Titans, they’re gonna win.’ It’s just so inconsistent and easy to have off days that anything can happen.”
While one game doesn’t define a season, losses like these leave a mark. The Nuggets have the talent and experience to bounce back, but with playoff seeding on the line, they can’t afford to let their guard down again. Moreover, it seems like the Nuggets were able to get on their foot.
The Nuggets Bested Stephen Curry and Co.
The Denver Nuggets came into their matchup against the Golden State Warriors with something to prove. The Denver team reacted strongly to their defeat at the hands of Washington’s Wizards, who sat at the bottom of the standings. The defending champions made their comeback statement by beating the Warriors 114-105 while Aaron Gordon exhibited superior play.
The Nuggets required an offensive leader to emerge during Jokić’s absence because the three-time MVP suffered a right elbow contusion and left ankle impingement. Gordon answered the buzzer with his ability to play efficiently throughout the basketball court. During that game, he scored 38 points, six rebounds, and five assists while dominating the Warriors in the paint and making pivotal defensive moves.
From the start, Gordon established his aggressive approach, which enabled the Nuggets to manage interior play while commanding the game speed. The Nuggets’ defense put so much pressure on the game that Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler managed only 20 and 23 points, respectively. The team delivered an emphatic response following the loss to Washington by demonstrating their ability to dominate despite missing their star center.