DNVR Player Grades: a Big Three is born in Denver

One can go back to media day this year to find the seeds of the conversation we’re in the midst of now. What will it look like when Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. start and close games together? The answer to that question will determine how far the Denver Nuggets go in the playoffs, yet thanks to a slew of injuries and a much-maligned approach to MPJ’s minutes, we haven’t been able to answer the question until now.

Jokić, Murray, and Porter Jr. started and closed Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, and a Big Three was born in the 134-132 2OT win.

The good news broke before the game—Murray was available and set to make his return from short absence due to left hamstring tightness. We’d come to find out later that he was on a minutes restriction—22 minutes to be exact—but head Michael Malone “blew through, that.” Murray finished with 39 minutes and scored a handful of huge buckets, though the Big Three was quiet to start the game.

Little went right for the Nuggets in the first half. The worst defense in the bubble flirted with a new nadir as the Jazz lit them up from deep. Denver could not contain Gobert on the roll and found themselves chasing when he kicked it back out to the perimeter. Gobert put up 14 points, and the Jazz shot 12/21 from deep as they took a nine-point lead into halftime.

Only Jerami Grant and Murray were in double-figures by the half, with Jokić and Porter Jr. combining for four points on 1/9 from the field. Utah looked poised to run away with it—then the latter two players flipped a switch. Jokić put up 14 in just over 10 minutes, hitting consecutive three-pointers again, while MPJ tacked on 11 of his own. Denver turned up the heat on defense, limiting the Jazz to just two makes on 11 attempts from three-point range.

The Nuggets took a lead that they carried nearly to the end of the game, but a wild conclusion full of abhorrent whistles, broken game clocks, and panicked play from Denver called for overtime.

The Nuggets blew a 6 point lead with 19 seconds left and blew another 6 point lead shortly after in the first overtime period. Jokić and Donovan Mitchell took turns ripping the opposing team’s heart out as neither could pull away. The dagger came in the final minutes of the second overtime period, when Murray, who was laboring on the court and grabbing at his left hamstring, dug deep and busted out an audacious step-back three. Murray’s testicular fortitude has never been in question and was on full display as he willed the game’s most crucial shot through the net. The Nuggets held on, just barely, for another shorthanded win over the Jazz.

Murray was clutch, but still rusty in his return. Porter Jr. was effective, yet nowhere near as dynamic as he’s been so far in the bubble. Jokić dominated, but he took an entire half to flip the switch. The room for growth is visible, and yet the early returns are encouraging nonetheless.

Early returns on the Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, Nikola Jokic trio:

Nuggets outscored the Jazz 65-44 (+21) in the 26 minutes that those three played together today.

114 ORtg, 86 DRtg, 28 NetRtg

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) August 9, 2020

Get used to numbers like those. These three are just getting started.

Let’s go to the grades:

Honor Roll

Nikola Jokić – A

The halftime tweet brigade found themselves deleting and backtracking yet again after coming for Jokić’s head too early. Gobert gave him the work in the first half but was limited to just 8 third-quarter points during Jokić’s explosion, which would be his final points of the game. While Gobert melted, Jokić ascended, reminding us how big the gap is between him and his counterpart in Utah. In 9:38 of overtime play, Jokić put up a ridiculous 14 points on 6/8 from the field. He took and made one clutch shot after another, including a game-saving layup just before the buzzer sounded the end of the first overtime period.

There was a time when many accused the Denver Nuggets of needing a true alpha—an elite go-to scorer in the crunch. It wasn’t just the national pundits, but the local talk show hosts as well who wondered aloud if Nuggets needed a closer. Since then, Jokić has answered that question emphatically, proving himself not just to be the clear closer on this team, but the best one in the entire league.

‘Big Honey’ finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals.

Jamal Murray – A-

Murray had some rust to knock off as this game got underway. He showed off his tremendous strength and newfound body mass with a handful of tough finishes around the rim, but he was tentative and off the mark with his jump shot. What he lacked in crispness, he made up for in abundance with effort and tenacity. The pick-and-roll coverage was a mess no matter who was involved in the action, Murray included, but he turned the energy up to 11 and was responsible for a handful of essential stops.

The jumper may have been off the mark, but his step-back three was the most critical shot of the game, and it looked true from the moment it left his hands. Jokić was the hero, and Murray was clutch in his own right, scoring on three consecutive possessions in the final two minutes of regulation. He finished with 23 points on 25 shots, dished out 8 assists, and corralled a career-high 12 rebounds.

Micahel Porter Jr. – A-

This was MPJ’s worst game in the bubble, which is encouraging considering his still positive impact. When Porter Jr.’s on, he can knock down difficult shots with the best of them, but most of his points come easy—like the 23 he put up despite shooting 1/8 from deep. He must find ways to stay involved even when he’s not thermonuclear, and he did that in this win. Porter Jr. finished with 12 rebounds and went 8/8 from the free-throw line. His big third-quarter aided Jokić in a momentum-shifting run, and he led the team in fourth-quarter scoring with 8.

The Class

Jerami Grant – B+

Grant’s been a sneaky capable and efficient scorer so far in Disney World. The Jazz present matchup problems for Paul Millsap, who only played 22 minutes in the win. Enter Grant, who led the team with more than 46 minutes played, and put up 21 points on 7/12 from the floor. Grant is finding ways to fill in the gaps as the often-overlooked element of a potent Denver offense. He was a pesky threat from the dunker spot, taking advantage of his athleticism, Jokić’s vision, and his now frequent mismatches with MPJ playing heavy minutes. Grant is playing well.

Monte Morris – B+

Monte had much less responsibility off the bench with Murray back in the fold. He gave Denver 15 points on 6/9 shooting, 2/4 from deep, and didn’t turn the ball over.

Torrey Craig – B 

Up and down we go, riding the Torrey Craig experience like a new six-flags attraction. Craig scored 11 efficient points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and did his part to contain Utah’s guards to a mostly inefficient night, save for Mitchell’s out of body experience in the fourth and overtime periods.

Principal’s Office

Paul Millsap – F

Millsap was borderline unplayable in this game despite starting and playing 22 minutes. Malone turned to Craig for the game’s extended conclusion, further cementing the reality that Millsap won’t play as much in the postseason, depending on the matchup. I expect he starts just about every game, but Grant will finish against teams that either deploy stretch fours or stud-wings that call for his length and attention.