Grades: Denver Nuggets Rally Around Best Player in the World

Nikola Jokić – A+

The Clippers know precisely how to defend this iteration of the Denver Nuggets, and they knew exactly how to steal a game in Ball Arena. They game-planned well and executed well, but Jokić denied them the prize with a fury-fueled scoring fest in the second half.

The Nuggets looked dead in the water at halftime. The only thing doing was Jokic’s greatness, and even that had yet to pop truly. The story was Reggie Jackson and the Clippers. The vibes were down tremendous. Then the dreaded third quarter came, and to our collective awe, Jokić flipped the script with 17 points, 6 rebounds (3 OREB), 3 assists, and 1 steal.

He was transcendent, something we should be used to by now, but Jokić’s malleable greatness took a new form altogether Wednesday night. He turned the computer off and turned down the right play to charge through multiple bodies and contact time and time again. He was the perfect blend and power and finesse, half-bullying, half-dancing to the rim, and pausing from his greatness only to unleash an occasional roar. Jokić was so good even he didn’t know how to act.

After forcing overtime, Jokić dominated some more, scoring 11 more points and recording one assist.

The assist:

Nikola Jokic on this pass: “I kind of make those passes on a regular basis. It’s a normal pass.”pic.twitter.com/8wyRvadi7j

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 20, 2022

If you missed the game, the box score wouldn’t explain to you how unlikely the win felt at halftime. It won’t paint the complete picture of a defense that knew only one player could beat them and couldn’t stop him anyway. It will, however, show you that he scored 49 points, grabbed 14 rebounds (7 OREB), and dished out 10 assists. He shot 16 of 25 from the field. I still think that undersells it.

Jokić won’t have a career like LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo. His trophy case won’t be as stacked. His jersey will never sell as theirs do. Few kids will model themselves after his game or argue with their friends over his place in the pantheon. I know this to be true, yet I find myself wondering after games like this — when Jokić is at his best, how much better could anyone else be? He’s playing the game as well as I’ve ever seen it played.

Aaron Gordon – A

Batman had Robin at his side in Ball Arena. AG stepped up big time, finishing with 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting and draining the game’s most important shot. It’s hard to overstate how important Gordon’s been in Denver this season. Initially, he proved his value on defense, but the state of the Nuggets changed, and these types of performances are occasionally required.

Gordon is playing the right way and saying all the right things at the podium. Denver’s second-best player in the win has been the second-best player this season. After the game, he didn’t hesitate to call Jokić “the best player in the world.” I’ve got a feeling the appreciation is mutual right now.

Jeff Green – C+

Jeff Green didn’t play a great game, but he positively impacted the conclusion with some timely cuts and forced Ivica Zubac to his left hand, which might’ve happened just once.  

Will Barton – C+

Once again, Barton took the fewest shots among all starters, but he took one that stands out. Barton sent the game to overtime with some vintage Jokić-ball. Jokić never misses a timely cut. Jokić was never missing Barton with a wide-open lane. Thrill did the rest.

Monte Morris – A-

Morris is still cold from distance after shooting 0 of 4 against the Clippers, but he made up for it in other ways. He recorded a near triple-double with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Morris’ couldn’t knock down his jumper but looked particularly crafty and canny around the rim. He manipulated Jokić’s immense gravity to his benefit as a scorer. It was great to see, as Morris is one of the few players not named Jokić who can generate a healthy possession.

Bones Hyland – C-

Hyland only hit two shots — both threes — as the bench struggled. It wasn’t Bones who got benched (0r benched himself) this time around. He logged the most time of any player on the second unit.

Zeke Nnaji – D+

Nnaji knocked down a couple of shots but took a step back around the rim. I praised his tenacity and rebounding-first approach in recent games and can’t write the same tonight.

Davon Reed – C-

Everyone got torched by Reggie Jackson, including Reed, whose top priority was not to get torched by Reggie Jackson. Reed also survived a near-catastrophic mental error. After AG beat the buzzer from the corner, Reed ran onto the court, but it was the wrong buzzer. The shot clock had expired, not the game clock, and Reed drew a technical that could very well have been the top story from his game. In the end, no harm, though I guess technically a foul.

Facundo Campazzo – F

Campazzo looked as out of place as he has all season. The second unit ran no offense through him and eventually moved him off-ball in favor of a Bones-first approach. Leaning on Bones is a good idea, but turning Facu into an off-ball player is not. There was no room for him in this one, and Malone ultimately adjusted, pulling him altogether after the Clippers triple-teamed Jokić with Campazzo on the floor.

Austin Rivers – F

Rivers returned from a non-Covid related illness and looked an awful lot like a player returning from an illness. He posted a -14 in under seven minutes. We’ll give Rivers a little time to get his legs back under him, but sick or not; some conclusions are fair game. For example, Rivers can’t throw an entry pass. That is not hyperbole. He can’t do it.

Michael Malone – A

I don’t typically grade Malone, but I recently broke that precedent to hand him an F after he hit his nadir as Nuggets skipper. Credit where it’s due. He adjusted this time around.