Grades: Denver Nuggets Take Rematch in San Antonio

“I know it may sound strange to most people, but there’s a huge difference going home 4-3 as opposed to 3-4.”

Michael Malone

Nikola Jokić – A+

Jokić’s final box score is ridiculous: 35 points (14 of 24), 17 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in 34:12 on the court. We’re used to insane lines from him, but what makes this performance particularly impressive is how he set the tone and controlled every aspect of the game. Jokić didn’t wait to dominate in San Antonio. He raced up the floor, sprinted through his cuts, played with renewed vigor on defense, and made it rain from deep. San Antonio couldn’t stop him, plain and simple. We’re used to that too, but it’s a welcome sight at the end of an exhausting road trip. By all accounts, Jokić should have been out of gas. Instead, he dropped 18 points in the third quarter.

The ball popped in San Antonio. Jokić missed his triple-double with only eight assists, but most of them were dimes, and the starters looked in total control with the big man at the helm. Jokić was phenomenal, and his playmaking was contagious.

Articulating Jokić’s greatness is one of my life’s great honors and difficulties. It’s easy to say he played well, but to capture how it feels to watch him dominate in such a fashion — it’s beyond words. One must see it to believe it, which makes us some of the luckiest people alive.

Monte Morris – A-

Morris is scorching hot from deep now. He shot 4 of 8 from 3, including arguably the two biggest threes of the night. Morris sank one to close the first half and cauterized an open wound when the starters checked back in late in the fourth. He finished with 19 points.

Aaron Gordon – A-

Gordon both fed off of Jokić and fed him right back. Jokić makes most players around him better, but few do the same for the reigning MVP. Gordon did in San Antonio, and the duo’s chemistry is growing. AG benefited from and contributed to the ball movement with his 16 points and 4 assists.

This dime to Jeff Green takes the cake:

Still in awe of this pass 🤩 pic.twitter.com/s9ICdbVjkD

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 12, 2021

Jeff Green – B-

Green knows how to play with the starters. In a sense, the quieter his night, the better, as that typically means he avoided costly mistakes. He’s an egoless complementary piece for Denver.

Davon Reed – B-

Reed caught a spot start in Will Barton’s absence, and he looked, well, dependable. He grabbed seven rebounds, stole the ball twice, and stayed within his role, much like Green.

Facundo Campazzo – B+

The Nuggets recorded 33 assists, and Facu tied Jokić and led all other players with 8. He was deep in his bag and might have out-dazzled even Big Honey.

oh my god Facu pic.twitter.com/DXSoi9dk3F

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 12, 2021

Campazzo added 8 points as well, and while he only shot 1 of 3 from deep Saturday, he finished the road trip shooting 44%. He’s turned the ship around.

Bones Hyland – B+

Bones returned to form with 16 points off the bench, including four 3s on nine attempts. He recorded 3 assists as well. Hyland looked far more comfortable the second go in San Antonio. He and Markus Howard went on a tear in the first half.

Markus Howard – A-

No Barton meant Howard got an opportunity, and boy did he seize it. By the end of the first half, Malone was calling plays to get Howard open, and with good reason. He shot 5 of 8 from distance in the first half alone and finished with 21 points. It was a tale of two halves for the bench, but Howard pushed the lead well into comfortable territory before halftime.

Zeke Nnaji – D+/Injured

Nnaji’s struggles continued in 16 minutes of action before leaving the game after a gnarly collision.

JaMychal Green – Injured

Green sprained his right ankle after multiple efforts on defense and wrestling for a rebound. He did not return.