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“This definitely was a must-win,” Morris said.

So much so that former Nuggets coach George Karl posted on social media leading up to the game: “It’s early in the season to say this but the Nuggets game against the Thunder is a ‘must win’ for Denver.” It was a much-needed confidence boost for the struggling Nuggets (7-7), who advanced to the Western Conference finals inside the NBA bubble last season.

They responded by building it back up to 26 and allowing Jokic and the rest of the starters to sit out the final quarter. Let’s not do that again,’” Nuggets coach Michael Malone recounted. We get lackadaisical and we give the game back. “I told our guys, ‘This is who we’ve been all season long. The Nuggets began to pull away in the second quarter and stretched it in the third before the Thunder made a little run to make things interesting. Luguentz Dort kept the Thunder close early by scoring 15 of his 20 points in the first half. Paul Millsap had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won six straight over the Thunder at home. “This is a matchup that he should be able to handle long-term. But I don’t think it’s a long-term tough cover for him,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Roby. “Obviously, it’s a tough cover right now. The Thunder tried everything to stop Jokic, but he was a handful for Isaiah Roby, who was giving up four inches and 50 pounds. “He’s got a touch I’ve never really seen. “He doesn’t get a lot of credit as he should, maybe because he (isn’t) flashy with the dunks,” said Morris, who had 15 points.