The Denver Nuggets are focused on winning and keeping Nikola Jokić healthy during the playoffs. However, concerns over Jokić's health have arisen due to the physical play he has encountered, particularly from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Following a recent game where the Thunder defeated the Nuggets 149-106, Aaron Gordon criticized the referees for not penalizing the Thunder's aggressive tactics against Jokić. He noted that Jokić was often fouled without calls being made, contributing to his fouling out in the game.

Despite Gordon's remarks, the officiating was relatively balanced, with 29 fouls called against Denver compared to 24 against Oklahoma City. Coach David Adelman previously expressed frustration about similar issues in earlier playoff rounds. As the series stands tied at 1-1, the Nuggets need Jokić to remain on the court in upcoming games to have a fighting chance.