Grades: Nikola Jokić Does it Again

Nikola Jokić – A

“I’ll take this,” Jokić said, striding across the locker room and taking the DPOG chain from Michael Malone before he could even announce the winner. No one objected. Jokić had just logged his third game-winning block of the season.

There’s a warm irony to how adjusted we’re becoming to the celebration — his teammates mobbing him after sealing the game with a stunning display of his worst attribute. Jokić isn’t much of a rim protector. Not unless the game is on the line, anyway.

Oh, yeah. Big fella logged 28 points and 15 rebounds as well.

Jeff Green – A

Green’s been so quiet lately, prone to disappearing from plain sight despite playing in the game. That wasn’t the case Saturday night. Green played one of his best games of the season. He scored 19 points via three 3s, some aggressive takes in the paint, and finally threw down another thunderous dunk, courtesy of his pick-and-roll compadre Facundo Campazzo. The points were great, but Green managed to grab five rebounds and dish out five assists as well. He was so active and figured into many of the game’s most significant possessions.

Will Barton – B-

Barton didn’t play an excellent game by any means. He did hit the game’s biggest shot, though — a running, right-legged Baltimore remix of the Sombor Shuffle to beat the clock and extend the lead to four with 28.3 remaining. Those would prove the decisive points as Denver won 110-109. After the game, Jokić addressed his own and Barton’s response to the MVP’s callout. They weren’t great, Jokić said and didn’t get into the two-man game enough. But they cleaned up the mistakes.

Aaron Gordon – C

Gordon got absolutely worked by Pascal Siakam. That will happen, but it’s Gordon’s job to make sure it doesn’t happen when Denver really needs one. He did more reacting than dictating, and Siakam finished with an efficient 35 points.

Bones Hyland – B-

Hyland struggled, and struggled, then struggled some more. But he just kept telling himself he’d get a chance to knock down a big shot, at least that’s what he told the media after the game. He was right. In the fourth quarter, bones knocked down a monster triple from way downtown, salvaging a tough night. Those clutch minutes were valuable for Bones. He’s part of the future and the present—no better way to learn than in the fire.

JaMychal Green – C

Green’s box score is solid. It looks like a steady performance. Of course, his performance was anything but stable. He straight up forgot to guard someone, ruined a highlight play, and generally fumbled around out there.

Facundo Campazzo – B-

Facu didn’t shoot well but still made a positive impact. He was an absolute menace, covering obscene amounts of ground, stuck in his perpetual state of high gear. He shot 2 of 6 from deep, and one of the threes gave Denver the lead with just under seven minutes remaining. For those curious, he did not play 17 straight minutes to close the game.

Austin Rivers – C

The Rivers minutes didn’t go great for Denver. He did have a couple of nice drives — he’s so quick when he wants to be — but for the most part, suffered from size disadvantages. We saw Facu, Rivers, and Bryn Forbes on the court together against a rangy and relentless defense. It was uninspiring.

DeMarcus Cousins – C+

Boogie cannot buy a bucket, but it does not seem to matter. The Nuggets won yet again with him in the lineup. And once again, the once graceful, now somewhat clumsy big man bruised his way to a positive contribution, relatively.

Bryn Forbes – C+

Bryn Forbes scored seven points. That’s pretty much the rundown on Bryn Forbes.