NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: NUGGETS VS WARRIORS

April 18, 2022

Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets

Game 2: Postgame

Warriors 126, Nuggets

Q. Obviously the double technicals, what's your frustration level with the whistle, with the game, with everything?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, it's pretty much everything. It is what it is. I'm not supposed to do that, and I'm not going to do that. I think I got fouled in the moment because I heard the slap. That's why I just reacted.

Q. Do you say that to the referees? Do they entertain that conversation at all?

NIKOLA JOKIC: He said it's not a foul, so that's his point of view.

Q. What was that with Gary Payton slapping you on the butt there in the first quarter?

NIKOLA JOKIC: He doesn't need to do that. I just reacted. No need to do that.

Q. Monte said a lot of guys spoke up in the postgame locker room. What were those conversations like?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, seems like we were just talking, so hopefully we're going to react and do something playing-wise.

Q. Is it too late to be talking? Monte said these are conversations that we needed to have a long time ago earlier in the season.

NIKOLA JOKIC: I think yes and no. I think it's always a good time to talk.

Q. You're out there and you're fighting for and with your team, you're playing with your heart on the floor, very passionate. How difficult is it to manage emotions out there?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, I think it's easy, but it's just basketball is just so -- especially now it's so emotional. You just don't want to lose, or you want to win, whatever it is.

That's why I just reacted that way, because I'm just trying to win a game.

Q. What in your opinion has to change to make this a longer series than just a sweep or so?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, we need to -- hopefully we can kind of find a better flow defensively and offensively. We had too many breakdowns. Sometimes we just score and they just literally dribble and pull up three, and we know that's what they're going to do. I think just probably be focused and just to get flow back that we usually play.

Q. Michael said that the biggest thing getting on the plane is to keep this team from splintering. Does it feel like that right now, that maybe this team is unraveling a little bit, and how do you keep it together?

NIKOLA JOKIC: You used two words that I don't know what it means, splintering and --

Q. Like breaking apart.

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, I told the guys before we even go to the first game, we're going to lose together, we're going to win together. In my opinion I'm still with the guys and I'm still hopefully going to fight with them. For me we are not splintered. Is that how you say?

Q. Will had mentioned that he doesn't feel like in either of the two games that the game plan was executed. Why do you think that is, and how do you make sure coming into Game 3 that you guys execute the game plan?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, probably we all need to know the game plan and we need to focus, be focused, because especially right now the details are very, very crucial, because if you make one mistake they're going to make you pay. They're a great team. Of course that's why they won how many championships, two, three championships, so they are making you pay for every little mistake you make. It is what it is.

Q. In both games it seems like you guys have had good stretches and then they go on these huge runs that really break the game open. What can you do either offensively or defensively in those moments to stay in the game a bit longer?

NIKOLA JOKIC: I mean, we know that they're going to make tough shots, of course. They're making that their whole life probably. It's probably not tough shots for them anymore. And offensively to maybe not force it, maybe just to try to play how we usually play.

Q. Jamal just tweeted out, "Y'all don't think I want to be out there." We can't speak to him. Do you have any sense of how difficult this is for Jamal, and do you have any idea where his head is at?

NIKOLA JOKIC: Because we know how he's a dog, he's a fighter. He definitely wants to be there with us. But I would rather him to be healthy, to be honest, as a friend, as a whatever. I would rather him to be healthy.