Life without Nikola Jokic lately has tested the Nuggets and caused coach Michael Malone to demand more of his players. Their 129-119 home loss to Chicago on Monday wasn’t for the same lack of effort that condemned them to defeat in Portland last Friday, but it was another example of the defensive flaws that will threaten to end their season in the playoffs. “I thought we played hard,” Malone said, “but we needed to play harder.” Denver is 2-3 in the last five games without Jokic, whom the team expects to return from elbow and ankle injuries at some point this week. The loss to the Bulls completed a split of a back-to-back that spanned two cities and represented an up-and-down response to Malone’s declaration in Portland that “if we continue to play the way we’re playing, we will be in the Play-In Tournament.” But when asked Monday about any lingering ramifications of that loss to the Blazers, Malone tersely deflected: “Portland’s over. We moved past Portland. We beat Houston last night. So I don’t look in the rearview mirror. I look forward. And we lost tonight against Chicago.” Bulls guard Coby White dismantled Denver’s defense for 37 points on 11-of-22 shooting. When he wasn’t getting to his spots, Josh Giddey was putting his shoulder down and plowing downhill for 26 points and nine assists. The Bulls arrived in Denver with seven wins in their last nine games, averaging 24 fast-break points in the last five. Despite Malone’s pregame warnings, they smoked the Nuggets with 31 more at Ball Arena. Then a bombardment of five 3-pointers in as many minutes opened up a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets ran out of gas on a few loose rebounds, setting up broken-play haymaker 3s. “They did it when we lost to them in Chicago, and they’re doing it at even a better level now: They’re running,” Malone said. “… When you think about teams that run, a lot of times, that’ll be, they’re getting offense off their defense. Well, that’s not the case. This team is by far the best running team in the league, especially after made baskets. The answer-back. They get the ball out of the net, inbounds and up the court faster than anybody.” Denver’s failure to mitigate that left Jamal Murray looking especially disappointed as he walked off the court. Battling through first-half foul trouble, he had totaled 28 points and seven assists, trying to will his team back into the game late with tough shot-making and fiery facial expressions. The Nuggets (45-28) remained in third place at the end of the night, but they are tied in the loss column with the Lakers and Grizzlies. “I just want to play with some good habits. We’re getting beat by teams that are good at something, and we’re not taking that away,” Murray said. “Like, we do sometimes, yeah. But I just think if we’re gonna play a team most likely seven times, over and over, the habits … the mindfulness of what the opposing team is trying to do (is important). And they’re getting everybody. I’m talking about me included. I can’t just let Giddey just come down, and I’m not in stance, and he’s running full-speed. … Just little things like that. They’re too comfortable. We don’t pick the ball up full-court like how they pick me up full-court. Just little stuff like that. That makes a difference in the game.” Peyton Watson played perhaps the most mature offensive game of his three-year career, scoring 24 points on 12 shots by making 3s above the break and drawing fouls in transition. He also snatched six rebounds and blocked four shots, as Malone gave him the starting nod with both Jokic and Aaron Gordon out. Gordon has missed 30 games this season, but his absence on Monday was more of a precautionary rest for the second game of the back-to-back. The Nuggets host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. Peyton Watson (8) of the Denver Nuggets defends Coby White (0) of the Chicago Bulls as Jalen Smith (7) lurks during the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 129-119 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, March 24, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) Related Articles Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray scores 39, Nuggets break even on 4-game trip without Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets | Christian Braun building quiet case for NBA’s Most Improved Player award: “A complete basketball player” Denver Nuggets | Nuggets Journal: Best and worst matchups for Denver in Round 1 of NBA playoffs Denver Nuggets | Michigan has brand-name recognition but Cinderella DNA for March Madness — and a star closer: “Ain’t no luck. This is Tre Donaldson” Denver Nuggets | Renck: Nuggets have big problems. They play no defense, and no one is listening to Michael Malone “Third game in four nights,” Malone said. “Aaron had a very impressive road trip, but obviously, we have to be really mindful of the reoccurring injuries that he’s had to battle all season long.” All five Nuggets starters scored in double figures, as did Russell Westbrook off the bench. With a 3-pointer from the logo to beat the shot clock, he passed Kevin Garnett to become the 20th-highest scoring player in NBA history. He finished with 14 points, 10 assists and five turnovers. Michael Porter Jr.’s 16 points were overshadowed by his 1-for-10 shooting night outside the arc, bringing his 3-point clip since the All-Star break down to 30.3% in 18 games. He missed three games before the break with a hamstring injury. Denver has now been swept by five different Eastern Conference opponents this season, with Chicago joining the Washington Wizards as the most inauspicious of the group. Want more Nuggets news? 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