Grades: Nuggets Squander Big Lead Against Charlotte Bench

Nikola Jokić – C+

Jokić was aggressive from the jump, taking six shots in the first four minutes of action. His touch disappeared on him, and he opened 3 of 11 from the floor. He ultimately took 34 shots on the night, only hitting 13. In doing so, he became the first Nuggets player to miss 21 shots in a game since Carmelo Anthony in 2007. He also logged more turnovers than assists.

Jokić checked in with a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter, and hilariously, Charlotte Head Coach James Borrego benched his starters in favor of a red hot bench. That’s a baby food recipe for Jokić, but there was no feast. His teammates struggled to get him the ball, and as Jokić noted after the game — “Even when they did, I missed.”

The starters weren’t good enough at home. That includes Jokić.

Will Barton – D+

Will Barton’s defense was atrocious to open the game, and if not for a flurry in the third quarter, he’d have failed this assignment. In the fourth quarter, he struggled to get Jokić the ball and outright ignored him in a crucial possession.

He’s floating out there, a different-looking player than the one who shot out the gates and played his tail off to open the season. It’s a marathon, though, not a sprint, and Barton’s looking spent at Christmas time.

Vlatko Čančar – B+

Vlatko caught his first start of the season and played well in 19-plus minutes. However, he wasn’t on the floor to close the game, as Malone opted to go small with Facundo Campazzo instead, matching Charlotte’s size and adding another playmaker.

Jeff Green – C+

Green scored efficiently but picked up five fouls and drifted in and out on defense, as he’s wont to do.

Monte Morris – F

Morris disappeared Thursday night. He shot 1 of 7 from the floor and only scored 3 points in nearly 28 minutes of action. The Morris-Jokić pick-and-roll was working its way into the inner layers of the circle of trust. They could have used Morris’ patience and cleverness down the stretch. Alas, he was missing in action.

Facundo Campazzo – B-

Campazzo played an extraordinary first half, at one point boasting a +24 in the +/- column as he and the bench stormed back to take the lead. Malone rode him a bit too long, though, and Campazzo tired. His shot went wayward, and he couldn’t turn any corners. Charlotte identified it immediately, and it changed the spacing for the worse. It was a tale of two halves for Campazzo and the bench.

Bones Hyland – F

Hyland couldn’t stop a nosebleed on the perimeter Thursday night, and he couldn’t knock down a shot either. It was not a Bones Day.

JaMychal Green – C+

The good: Green knocked down two threes, his only field goals attempts of the night, and shot 4 of 4 from the free-throw line as well. He finished with 10 points in nearly 13 minutes on the court.

The bad: his defense — the Green minutes did not go well for Denver.

Austin Rivers – B-

Rivers is a good bench player right now. He and Campazzo fueled the initial run.

Zeke Nnaji – C-

Nnaji’s numbers are underwhelming, as was his performance. Again, though, he was on the floor while some good things happened for the second unit. Keep playing him. Keep chipping away.