The Denver Nuggets were dealt a heavy blow in Game 2 of the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a lopsided defeat. But beyond the scoreboard, frustrations are brewing—particularly over what Nuggets players see as a lack of foul calls on behalf of their star center, Nikola Jokic. Forward Aaron Gordon didn’t hold back after the game, expressing serious concern about the physical play Jokic is enduring—and the lack of whistles to match.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Gordon voiced his frustration bluntly: “If they’re going to let ’em push him, shove him, put two hands on him, root him out, use the knee, elbows—all types of stuff they’re doing to him—that’s not necessarily legal. There’s not much you can do. Jok’s got to play through it. If they’re not going to call it, they’re not going to call it. But they’re fouling the guy.”
Gordon went on to describe what he sees as a pattern of delayed calls that consistently hurt Denver’s rhythm. “They’re calling the second foul almost every time. They’re fouling Joker first, and then Jok is reactionary. And they do get the second foul a lot of the time,” he said.
“But they’re fouling him—point blank, period—throughout the game. You can’t call every foul or you’d be blowing the whistle every play, but they’re fouling him.” Aaron Gordon said. Nuggets have a lot of work to do, if they want to make the NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets stands at the end of the bench after fouling out during the second half of game two of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder
Jokic doesn’t dwell on officiating
While Gordon aired his grievances, Jokic took a more composed approach. Rather than focusing on missed calls, the Serbian star pointed to a lack of energy, effort, and execution from his team in the blowout loss.
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“Basically, it was one team playing tonight,” Jokic said postgame. “Even the turnovers, the misses — they were aggressive. They were rebounding the ball. They were just better. They were much, much better than us today, and that’s why the score was so bad.”
He doubled down on that message. “They were just better in every segment of the game. They were going by us, they were rebounding the ball. They were just better.” The box score confirmed it: Oklahoma City controlled the boards, shared the ball, and brought relentless defensive pressure from the opening tip. The Nuggets, still recovering from a grueling seven-game NBA series against the Clippers, appeared a step slow all night.
Westbrook shines off the bench in losing effort
While Jokic wasn’t at his best and Denver struggled collectively, one unexpected bright spot emerged: Russell Westbrook. Despite inconsistent play and questionable decisions at times this postseason, Westbrook delivered a gritty performance in Game 2 against OKC, showing flashes of the fire and leadership that once made him an MVP. He finished with 19 points off the bench and played with visible intensity, even as the game slipped away.
