Grades: Denver Nuggets won't stop winning

The Denver Nuggets are on another tear. Every time the basketball gods check the gut of this team, the Nuggets respond. Without Jamal Murray, Will Barton III, Monte Morris, and despite Michael Porter Jr.’s sprained left ankle, Denver pulled away from the Toronto Raptors late in the second game of a back-to-back. The Nuggets should have run out of gas, but the second unit dug deep and busted the game wide open with a remarkable stretch in the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokić never checked into the final frame as the Nuggets notched a rare blowout. The Clean-Up Crew fumbled the massive margin, but Denver secured the 121-111 victory all the same — the 300th win of head coach Michael Malone’s career.

Let’s go to the grades:

Nikola Jokić – A-

The Raptors knew how they wanted to defend Nikola Jokić. They sold out to prevent easy entry passes and sent late help from weak shooters, a newfound issue for the starters with no Murray, Barton, or Morris. They held Jokić to a relatively quiet night. He did shoot 61.5% from the field and scored 19 points in 28:16. But he recorded just two assists — a number so small it looks like a typo next to Jokić’s name. The starters were stagnant, the shooters were cold, and the Raptors stayed committed to the game plan. Would Jokić have cracked the code in the fourth if need be? Probably. But he didn’t need to.

Resting him down the stretch is no small development. They need to find rest for him where and when they can, especially, as Malone noted after the game, due to Jokić’s perspective on the matter.

“(he) takes great pride in his Serbian heritage,” Malone told the media. “And as he always says: Serbian guys don’t sit out.”

Michael Porter Jr. – A-

Michael Porter Jr. stood near half-court as Altitude’s Chris Dempsey addressed him after the game. Porter had just scored 23 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, recorded 1 assist, and blocked 3 shots.

“Off night,” he told Dempsey, who could barely hold back his laughter.

Porter’s right. In a minimal amount of time, he’s managed to raise the expectations from being a talented blue-chip prospect to an actual star. He could have played better. He could have shot better. But he atoned for any shortcomings when he and the second unit blew the game wide open in the fourth quarter. They did through stops, and Porter played a role in that. While the bench was generating better looks than usual thanks to all the fast break opportunities, they still had that Porter card in their back pocket. He hit some silly shots during that stretch. There’s no better word for them. This man was born to put the ball through the hoop.

“I think Michael is becoming a complete basketball player,” Malone said after the game. “Michael Porter has proven himself to be as valuable as we all hoped when we drafted him.”

Aaron Gordon – B-

What a fascinating tenure in a Denver Nuggets uniform it’s been for Aaron Gordon. He’s less a high-flyer and offensive hot-shot than some might think. In Denver, Gordon’s been a utility man. Less emphasis on scoring and more on defense, rebounding, and tertiary playmaking. He earned six of his nine points through some brutal, grueling drives. When those drives proved fruitless, he kept the ball moving. Gordon’s like a Big Cat out there. You can see the power in every movement.

Facundo Campazzo – A-

Three injured ball handlers later, how vital is Facundo Campazzo? The Nuggets are extracting insane value from a dirt-cheap deal, and it’s hard to imagine where’d they’d be without him now. He looks great as the primary ball-handler — what’s the Argentine quip for “No Shit Sherlock?” — and he got under the skin of Kyle Lowry. Lowry played very well, but he straight up abandoned the basketball game at one point in favor of a gamesmanship duel with Facu. Facu won.

PJ Dozier – B

Dozier was on the floor with Porter and the second unit when they cracked the game. He’s playing phenomenal defense and it’s buoying his impact even when the shots don’t fall. That second unit got it done with stops. That’s Dozier’s music.

Austin Rivers – B+

Rivers scored 8 quick points in his first stint of the game. He was the lone bench player to score in the first quarter. He cooled off from there, but continued playing great defense. He’s provided that in spurts since arriving in Denver.

After the game, Rivers stole the show.

Doesn’t get better than Austin Rivers on Michael Porter Jr. pic.twitter.com/iaJKYLoFL2

— Mike Singer (@msinger) April 30, 2021

Shaquille Harrison – B-

This is a win-win situation for Shaq Harrison and the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets get an elite defender and Harrison finds a team with lofty aspirations and him in their plans. I’m buying your Shaq stocks in you’re somehow still buying.

JaMychal Green / Paul Millsap – A-

Where combining the two, because they played together again and played so well. Malone called them “phenomenal” after the game, and he’s right. They generated stops, ran the floor, and even spread their playmaking wings a little. Millsap also got after it on the glass.

Clean-Up Crew – Played

The people got Bol Bol. It was a good night.