Thunder trying to shore up post play

Nikola Jokic bricked a layup off the back iron, but it was no problem for Denver's superstar center. He simply tipped the ball back in with his right hand, barely jumping for the rebound even with three orange jerseys surrounding him.

Jokic and the Nuggets toyed with the Thunder around the rim in Denver's 119-101 win Tuesday night at Ball Arena.

Denver outscored Oklahoma City 32-3 in second-chance points and 62-44 in paint points. The Nuggets secured 18 offensive rebounds to the Thunder's nine and attempted 19 more shots than the Thunder.

“That was kind of the game in the first half, right?” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We did try to address it at halftime. I thought the guys did make a concerted effort to move

forward there, but it was a little too much.”

Jo ki cg rab bed five of those offensive rebounds. Without Al H or ford ( personal reasons), t he Thunder lacked a big body to push back against the 6- foot -11,284- pound Jokic.

Isaiah Roby, listed at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, started at center for the Thunder. Roby played well on the offensive end, but he was overpowered by Jokic in the post.

It wasn't for a lack of effort. Roby stepped in front of Jokic in the third quarter to poke away an entry pass, which led to a dunk for Thunder teammate Darius Bazley.

“It's just another really good experience for him,” Daigneault said of Roby. “Obviously i t's a tough cover right now, but I don't think it's a long-term tough cover for him. I think this is a matchup that he should be able to handle long-term. We see him as that kind of player.”

Jokic, who's averaging a triple-double, scored 27 points with 12 rebounds and six assists in just 28 minutes.

The Nuggets, in addition to beating the Thunder on the glass, also took advantage of 19 Thunder turnovers. Denver outscored OKC 28-16 in points off turnovers.

Dort, Dort, Dort

What else is there to say? Luguentz Dort was terrific on both ends even in the loss.

He bothered Nuggets guard Jam al Murray so much that Murray plowed through Dort when trying to get free on an inbounds pass in the second quarter. For Murray, it might have been worth the offensive foul to release his frustration.

“He' s a really good player ,” Do rt said of Murray. “I just go out there and make it tough for him.”

Dort limited Murray to five points and four assists on 2-of-10 shooting.

“It's not a broken record in that it's really hard to do every night,” Daigneault said of Dort's defense. “It's hard to play well every night, it's hard to compete every night as it is.”

And unlike last season, Dort's offensive output is keeping up with his defense. He scored 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. He shot 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

Dort made 30 3-pointers in 36 games last season at a 30% clip. He's made 31 3-pointers in 13 games this

season at a 44% clip.

Roby's development

Roby only shot 3- of9, but he flashed some encouraging skills on offense.

In the first quarter he faked a pass, and then drove through Murray for a nice and-1 finish. The second-year center recorded three assist sand shot 1-of-3 from 3-point range. Roby is quietly shooting 7-of-18 from 3-point range this season.

He also collected nine rebounds and four steals Tuesday night.

“I think Roby just gets better every game ,” Thunder guard Sh ai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “His confidence is starting to get there. We knew he had the physical tools and the skill set to play at this level.”

Status updates

Neither Horford nor Ty Jerome (left ankle sprain) are with the team.

Horford and his wife Amelia Vega just welcomed their fourth child.

Daigneault said he's not sure if Horford will join the Thunder at any point during the team's fivegame road trip, which lasts through Jan. 27 at Phoenix.

“Obviously we're really happy for him first and f ore most,” Daign ea ult said. “I didn't want to make that announcement on his behalf the other day. He's with his family right now in OKC. And then the timeline's just undetermined at this point.”

Jerome has yet to make his Thunder debut after arriving from Phoenix as part of the Chris Paul trade.

“He' s progressing ,” Daigneault said .“He's back home. There's just more resources there for his rehab.”

Jerome missed the first 18 games of his rookie season with a right ankle sprain. The second-year guard is now recovering from a left ankle sprain.