Grades: Dallas Mavericks end Denver Nuggets' streak

The Denver Nuggets returned home to find surprisingly mild weather and a new name on the injury report. Nikola Jokić was questionable for Saturday’s game with the Dallas Mavericks due to a sprained ankle but started anyway. He played well and got some early help from an active Will Barton III, but Jamal Murray no-showed again, and Dallas shot the lights out from deep. The lead was practically insurmountable by the time Michael Porter Jr. found a rhythm. He exploded late, but it wasn’t enough, and Dallas pulled away for a double-digit win.

Let’s go to the grades:

Nikola Jokić – A-

Despite playing on a freshly sprained ankle, Jokić posted his signature stat line — just one rebound shy of a triple-double. He was aggressive and efficient, leading the team in field goal attempts (10/20 from the field) while also recording eleven assists.

Jamal Murray – D

Murray went scoreless in the opening frame, then only scored two points in the second, and just two again in the third. After the most encouraging stretch in the regular season of his career, Murray’s lost his way again. He looks lethargic and despondent. He’ll respond, I’m sure, but he must begin his work anew to shed the label of inconsistent once and for all.

It was also a tough matchup for him. Luka Doncic is Dallas’ starting point guard. Doncic didn’t shoot well, but no one could stop him from penetrating and collapsing the defense. Doncic finished with twelve assists, and his backcourt partner, Josh Richardson, shot 4/5 from deep. There was a lot of size on the court, and Murray got swallowed up.

Michael Porter Jr. – B+

Porter started at Small Forward alongside Paul Millsap. That duo hasn’t played well together this season, and Saturday night’s game serves as further evidence. Everyone struggled defensively, Porter of course included. He stabilized in the second half when playing either alongside JaMychal Green or at Power Forward himself. He exploded for 17 points on just five shots in the fourth quarter. He almost pulled his teammates back into a lost game.

When speaking with the media, I asked him about his mentality in the fourth. Porter maintained he wasn’t “shot hunting,” He simply wanted to play hard to the end, as good teams do in his eyes. He also pointed out he scored at least one corner three by design. The team looked to him, and he delivered.

Unfortunately, he was limited to just 5:08 on the court in the first half due to three quick fouls. With more time, he might have kept this a competitive game.

Paul Millsap – D-

With Monte Morris unavailable, Michael Malone opted to slide Paul Millsap back into the starting lineup. It did not work. After the game, Malone cited Morris’s absence, and a desire to match Dallas’ size. While Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kleber are both, in fact, big, they’re also both stretch bigs. Millsap struggled to defend the 3 and struggled to keep Dallas off the glass as well.

He scored only nine points and grabbed just three rebounds while shooting 2/9 from the field.

Will Barton III – B

Barton got hot early yet again. He dropped 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 23 on 5/10 from 3. Offensively, he gave Denver what they needed, but it was a rough night for him on the other end despite playing at his natural position.

PJ Dozier – C-

Dozier looked underwhelming in multiple pick and roll possessions with Jokić. Twice he pulled up for an open mid-range jumper, neither of which inspired any confidence. Both shots fell short. He was 2/7 from the field and only picked up one assist.

Facundo Campazzo – D+

Campazzo recorded six assists but looked allergic to scoring in a scoreless performance. He worked his tail off defensively, as he always does, but his lack of size was painfully obvious Saturday night. It was too easy for Dallas to shoot over him.

JaMychal Green – C-

JaMychal Green returned and looked understandably rusty. He scored only five points on 2/6 shooting.

Vlatko Cancar and Zeke Nnaji – C-

Both players logged around five minutes. They combined for zero points, three rebounds, and one assist.