Grades: Denver Nuggets Drop the Ball in Dallas

Nikola Jokić – A

The Dallas Mavericks knew precisely how they wanted to guard Jokić alongside a depleted starting lineup. They doubled him every time he touched the ball. They were willing to front him and dare Denver’s guards to drop entry passes over the top. The blueprint is out on stopping the shorthanded Nuggets, but that didn’t stop Jokić from playing well. Despite how hard he had to work to manufacture a clean look, Jokić dropped 27 points and 16 rebounds on 11 of 18 shooting. He played an excellent game defensively as well. Of all the ‘Jokić got no help’ games we’ve seen this season, the loss to Dallas is way up there.

Aaron Gordon – B-

Gordon scored an efficient 15 points and was active on the boards, but a lingering hamstring issue left Gordon off Luka Doncic to start the game. Gordon eventually took the matchup in the second half and wasn’t as successful in stifling the wunderkind as he’s been in the past. Doncic didn’t shoot well, but he racked up 15 assists as he worked his way deep into the teeth of the defense. Gordon also struggled from the free-throw line missing all four of his attempts.

Will Barton – F

Barton finished with more turnovers (seven) than made field goals (four). He was arguably worse on defense, where he’s looked to be running on empty for almost a month now. Perhaps that illness did a bigger number on him than we realize. Or maybe he’s just tired, no longer a young player, overextended in his role, and dealing with a complicated injury history. Regardless of the reason or the excuse, if that’s how one perceives it, Denver needs more if Barton’s got it.

Austin Rivers – F

You wouldn’t know it from the box score, but Dallas made Jokić’s life hell on Monday night, and a lot of that has to do with Rivers. Rivers is not a Jokić-ball player. He’s a tentative catch-and-shooter, finds more success putting the ball on the floor as a scorer than a playmaker, and ultimately hinders that lineup if he’s not feeling hot. He was the open man on several occasions, and Jokić had little choice but to turn his way. Rivers couldn’t convert.

It wasn’t just the poor shooting. It was the spacing issues alongside Aaron Gordon and Facundo Campazzo. All three can and have found grooves from distance, but none of them scare a defense enough to alter the floor’s geometry. Defenders know what to do.

Rivers does bring perimeter defense to the starting lineup on his best nights, but Luka saw right through him in Dallas.

Facundo Campazzo – C-

Much of that Rivers commentary applies to Campazzo, although the low mark is less about how he played and more about how Dallas played him. Denver’s guards inspired no fear, and Dallas tripled down on their approach as the game went on. If Facu was wide-open from 3, so be it. He also smoked a point-blank layup to open the second half, nipping a budding run. He finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Davon Reed – C-

Reed’s floating back down to earth after flying high in his first few games with the Nuggets. He’s still fun to watch on defense though.

Bones Hyland – D

Hyland played hard, and that’s reflected in the rebound column. He finished with six total. However, Bones didn’t shoot well and played a poor game defensively. Hyland’s searching for a rhythm in his rookie season as he goes in and out of the rotation for various reasons, sometimes returning to a different lineup.

JaMychal Green – D

Green was taking baby steps in the right direction, but he stumbled in Dallas. He was ineffective, as has become the norm for him.

Bol Bol – B-

Bol played around six minutes and earned the right to play more had Dallas’ size not dictated otherwise. He did step out of bounds—drink!—and looked out of place on defense, but he played hard and looked comfortable in roughly three minutes alongside Jokić. He’s benefitted from the Popeye Jones experience.

Vlatko Cancar – Injured

Vlatko’s taking a beating out there. He was carried off the court following an apparent non-contact injury. The team is calling it a right foot injury for now.