DENVER — Life without Nikola Jokic has been trying for the Nuggets, or at least it has felt that way since coach Michael Malone demanded more of his players last Friday in Portland.

Denver is 2-3 in the last five games without the reigning MVP after a 129-119 loss Monday to the Chicago Bulls. It completed a split back-to-back that spanned two cities and represented an up-and-down response to Malone’s declaration that “if we continue to play the way we’re playing, we will be in the Play-In Tournament.”

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 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.”

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 getting downhill to draw fouls. 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.

“He’s been battling all season long,” Malone said. “Third game in four nights. 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.”

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.

Jamal Murray walked off the court hanging his head after a fiery effort. He battled through early foul trouble to finish with 28 points and seven assists. All five Nuggets starters and Russell Westbrook off the bench scored in double figures, but their defense wasn’t able to match the production.

©2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.