There was plenty for the Nuggets to worry about Sunday, as players and coaches were still reeling from Saturday night’s 97-94 loss to Oklahoma City to fall behind 3-0 in their first-round playoff series.
The Nuggets know that if they are going to extend their season beyond tonight’s Game 4 and send the series back to Oklahoma City, they will have to quickly find answers to their offensive woes.
The Nuggets shot 37 percent (29-of-78) in Saturday’s loss, including hitting only 7-of-24 shots in the fourth quarter. Denver is shooting 42 percent in the series.
Karl said he thinks the offensive slump is a combination of how the Thunder is playing defensively and the fact that some Nuggets players are losing confidence in their shots in a playoff setting.
“What’s happened is that we’ve had so many guys playing well at the same time, it was exciting,” Karl said. “In the same way, almost all of them have gone into a slump. Hopefully, all that will change (tonight) and we’ll have two or three guys rolling.”
Forward Kenyon Martin said with elimination looming, there is no time for his teammates to be timid.
“If you’re not going to shoot in this position, you shouldn’t be here,” Martin said. “Whether your confidence goes, you’ve got to find it. Once your confidence goes, you’ve lost. So I don’t think that’s the case. I just think guys are a little more hesitant when you’re used to making those shots. Jump shots are a lot harder to come by in the playoffs ’cause every one is contested.”
Afflalo feeling good.
Guard Arron Afflalo said his left hamstring held up well in his postseason debut. He played 32 minutes Saturday, his most minutes since March 3.
Afflalo scored 13 points, including nine in the first quarter.
“I don’t have any lingering effects. I didn’t during the game,” Afflalo said. “Fatigue did play a small factor. I tired out as the game wore on, but that’s just natural. I’m glad I was able to make it through the game. That was cool.”
Gallo dealing with sore Achilles.
Karl said he expects forward Danilo Gallinari to be able to play tonight despite dealing with a sore Achilles tendon.
Gallinari played only 18:48 in Saturday’s Game 3 loss and hit only 1-of-6 shots. He made four free throws to finish with six points.
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
