Grades: Lillard Wows, Nuggets Win Game 5 in Double OT

“We won and lost that game so many times.”

-Michael Malone

Nikola Jokić – A+

The burden undertaken here is unfathomable. Jokić has nowhere to hide without his second-best player and as a center in a guard’s league. It’s not enough to carry the offense, but also his positionally bound duty to contest every rebound. To fight in the trenches where the rules of engagement are warped and unrecognizable. Should he fail to protect the rim, typically a weakness of his, he’ll be criticized for being something less than an antiquated understanding of the position he plays. I digress, as it matters not. Jokić is inevitable, and he checked off every box in Game 5.

With Jusuf Nurkić fouled out of another game, Jokić abused Enes Kanter in the fourth, and Portland finally bent the knee and sent help. The irony was as undeniable as Jokić’s fatigue. Jokić was scoring, but settling for one too many jumpers in an effort to avoid any battles in the paint. Yet that’s when Portland sent reinforcements, and Jokić made them pay just as they feared.

The Blazers had, in fact, limited Jokić as a playmaker for the better part of four games. His teammates didn’t just miss shots. The potential assist opportunities were down as well. But Jokić recorded nine assists in Game 5, thanks partly to the strategy mentioned above and partly to the extra basketball. The most notable assist came in the second overtime period. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve at least heard about it. That’s because it’s one of the best passes you will ever see.

you gotta be kidding me with this pass by Jokic to MPJ pic.twitter.com/4yQRze4HqI

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 2, 2021

That cut from Gordon was necessary, and Jokić was waiting for it. He knew what that sequence of events would lead to long before Covington’s decision-making factored into the result. The timing is perfect, and the touch is otherworldly. Jokić is more savant than a computer, at least that’s what he lets on in a secondary language, but it’s almost as if he calculated Covington’s exact reach. It floats right over the fingertips and into the shooting pocket. The ensuing shot is something worth writing home about as well, by the way.

Michael Porter Jr. – A

“It’s definitely going to be different tomorrow.”

That’s what Porter told the media following practice on Monday when he fielded multiple questions on rising to the occasion and responding to physical defense. It’s not his aptitude in question, but his fortitude since fading into the background of a Game 4 loss. He told us it would be different the next time out, and it was.

Porter scored 26 points on 10/13 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds — a much-improved total — and hit one of the biggest shots of the night in front of Portland’s bench. He hit various ridiculously tough mid-range shots, and most of them came with Jokić off the floor.

The level of difficulty on some of Michael Porter Jr.'s shots tonight was insane.

He's only 22. Unlimited ceiling. pic.twitter.com/ENvHvVCsIT

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) June 2, 2021

What Porter lacks in an offensive repertoire, he has in abundance in natural talent. He’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s learning how to navigate them. What a tremendous response from the 22-year-old.

Michael Malone – Let’s Talk About It

Malone opted not to foul Lillard in a handful of opportunities to send him to the line rather than allowing him to extend the game with a three. Malone also opted not to send the double. It came back to bite him on virtually each of these occasions. Reporters asked Malone about the much-maligned decision(s) after the game, and he chalked it up to “respect for Damian Lillard,” pointing out that Lillard might have gotten a shot up and converted a four-point play.

That was the wrong call, but the Nuggets won Game 5, and Malone will continue coaching them in Game 6. Onward.

Aaron Gordon – B+

Gordon played winning basketball Tuesday night. He knocked down more than half his shots, shot 2/4 from deep, grabbed four offensive rebounds on his way to ten total, and recorded four assists as well. Perhaps his most meaningful contribution came when he forced a hard contest and sixth foul from Nurkić in the fourth.

Gordon drew CJ McCollum as his primary assignment, which had mixed results. On the one hand, McCollum never got comfortable. On the other, he missed some shots I’d wager he’d gladly take again.

Nevertheless — it isn’t flashy, and it isn’t always pretty, but it’s mostly winning basketball from Denver’s trade deadline acquisition. Gordon’s found utility in a suboptimal matchup for him on paper.

Austin Rivers – B

We’ll remember the horrendous foul call and meme-worthy reactions from Rivers as Lillard nearly burned the building down, but he played a crucial role in limiting McCollum to a poor shooting night as well. He couldn’t guard Dame down the stretch, but who are we kidding? I’m not going to hang all those buckets on Rivers. They belong to Dame, with a small assist to Denver’s coaching staff.

On the other end of the court, Rivers scored 18 points on 5/10 shooting and recorded 7 assists. Eight of those shots were 3s, and he sank half of them. So much is coming down to how well Austin Rivers plays right now. It’s truly hard to believe. We should scrap preseason content in the future, as clearly none of it matters.

Facundo Campazzo – D+

The opening stint went well for Campazzo, but it all went downhill from there. It wasn’t his night. Thankfully, his former partner off the bench picked up the slack.

Monte Morris – A-

Let’s address the elephant in the room so the compliments can really land. Morris missed a game-sealing free throw (again) and blew an open layup that could have iced the game. But that’s all ice under the fridge now. Morris closed the game in place of Campazzo, one of the better levers Malone pulled, and hit some big-time shots. I mentioned the missed free throw, but he shot 9/10 from the line. The Nuggets don’t win this game without his four 3s, scoring threat where Facu could provide none, and poise.

How to maximize a screen, presented by Monte Morris: pic.twitter.com/ucenh14wqC

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) June 2, 2021

The Mayor of Chopper Circle finished with 28 points.

JaMychal Green – B+

Green hit a clutch three from the right corner in the fourth quarter and fought hard on the glass. Here come those quality Green minutes we’ve begged to see.

Markus Howard – B

Malone is playing Howard to score, and that’s exactly what he did in the second quarter. Howard hit three 3s in under seven minutes of action in the frame. The DNVR Bar went nuts, but then the big lead went away as Lillard went nuts too. It was a long night of basketball.

Paul Millsap – D+

Millsap laid an egg in the win. He logged the lowest minute total of any rotation player.

Game Notes:

I can’t think of anything else. I’m tired. Goodnight.