Grades: Nuggets Roll Blazers in Game 2

A seven-game series is played one game at a time. The Portland Trail Blazers buried the Denver Nuggets behind an avalanche of threes in Game 1, but the Nuggets adjusted and responded with a blowout in Game 2 Monday night.

Nikola Jokić left his body in favor of the divine plane, Aaron Gordon checked himself into the series, and Paul Millsap brought the firepower off the bench.

Let’s hit the grades:

Nikola Jokić – A+

Jokić sees the code. He’s not predicting the future but dictating it instead. The game has slowed to his pace as it has for so many of the all-time greats, and there’s simply no stopping him right now. Jokić dropped 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on the Blazers in roughly 31 minutes. He shot 15/20 from the field, 2/4 from deep, and 6/6 from the line. The Blazers are daring him to score, and he’s averaging 36 points on just under 62% from the field through two games.

Jokić hit each of those threes mentioned above from the wing. But the rest of his makes all came in the same vertical third of the court Monday night. Jokić did damage under the rim, out to the free-throw line—where he frequently camped out on offense—and the top of the key. Something seemed to click for him there, and he overwhelmed Portland with his scoring. The Blazers didn’t figure anything out with regards to Jokić in Game 1. They just played their best basketball. Double at your peril, resist that temptation and meet your maker all the same. There is no answer. Jokić is inevitable.

Michael Porter Jr. – B

Porter flipped his performance from Game 1, comfortably hitting his threes but losing some physicality in an apparent deal with the devil. He was stripped one too many times and bumped off his spot on both ends of the court. Still, the threes were huge, and just his presence on the floor changes life for his teammates. He’s playing well through two games. He’s contributing to winning basketball, even if we’re still waiting for more of his offensive explosions.

Aaron Gordon – A-

We in the media have spent a lot of time describing how Gordon can impact this series and how he’d have to go out and make it happen. At halftime, Gordon reached out and took his opportunity. He told the staff he wanted the Damian Lillard assignment after Lillard dropped 32 in the first half. They gave it to him.

Gordon’s size and strength proved helpful as he stymied Lillard in the third quarter. He saved us all from an anxiety-riddled frame and added one more card to Michael Malone’s hand.

The Nuggets put Aaron Gordon on Damian Lillard in the 2nd half yesterday and it keyed their 3rd quarter run.

Gordon helped hold Dame to 2/9 shooting and 10 points after halftime: pic.twitter.com/1XHhIglcCD

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) May 25, 2021

Facundo Campazzo – B-

Campazzo caught that light work from Lillard in the first half, but played nicely once Gordon bailed him out. Facu is in fact getting under the skin of his opponents, by the way. Just ask CJ McCollum.

Facu baited CJ McCollum into this pic.twitter.com/ZxP9sX0Dxl

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 25, 2021

That response from McCollum earned a flagrant foul. And it wasn’t the only time Facu got the better of him.

Facu nutmegs CJ McCollum pic.twitter.com/AHRDuiMKC8

— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) May 25, 2021

Austin Rivers – C+

Rivers picked up four fouls as he struggled to guard Lillard and McCollum, but his energy was there. He looked, frankly, healthier than in Game 1. He’s going to be outplayed by some of his matchups throughout these playoffs. As it stands, he’s a buyout guy picking up All-Star caliber guards. But look for the little moments. He had three chances to knock down an open three. He found the bottom of the net twice this time.

Monte Morris – A-

Morris was spectacular in nearly 30 minutes off the bench. He scored 12 points, dished out seven assists, and recorded one emphatic block of Lillard — the exclamation point on a strong statement. He played well on both ends of the floor and is back to that steadying force we’ve come to appreciate deeply in Denver. So much of what occurs with second units on the floor looks chaotic, especially for Denver this season. But Morris looked smooth and composed as he slowed the game to his pace and picked Portland apart.

Paul Millsap – A

Millsap played just 14:45 off the bench, yet dropped 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, recorded 3 assists and 1 steal. Anyone hankering for some layered statistical accomplishments? Millsap is the first player to reach those marks in 15 minutes or fewer off the bench in NBA Playoff history.

Dad of the Year.

JaMychal Green – C+

Green looked a little better in Game 2. He’s not yet playing well, and it’s been months since he has. But he kept the train on the tracks this time around and avoided disaster.

Shaq Harrison – B+

Malone finally broke the emergency glass and deployed Shaq to cool off the thermonuclear Lillard. It worked. Harrison recorded two steals in just ten minutes of playing time and stopped the bleeding to salvage a second quarter that was spoiling fast. This series calls for more of the same. In my estimation, the only question that remains is: should Malone keep this in the holster for as long as he can? It’s an adjustment, and with enough time, Portland might find a way to exploit those minutes.

After Shaq Harrison entered w/ 1:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, the #Nuggets went on an 8-0 run to extend their 4-pt lead to 12 (73-61) going into halftime. Damian Lillard had just put up 20 points in the quarter.

Here's the first part of that run. Just watch Shaq on Dame.👀 pic.twitter.com/tApyzxkpe7

— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) May 25, 2021

Markus Howard – C

Howard hit both of his shots in nearly 15 minutes off the bench. He doesn’t do much else but score at a high level, and he’s not scoring much. These minutes are a bit confusing, but they were tenable Monday night.

Game Notes: 

This one got chippy. The two teams teetered on physical confrontation for four quarters. The benches even cleared when Nurkić and Porter made contact on the outskirts of a forming Denver huddle. Jamal Murray won’t stop chirping. Zach Collins is getting really into inflammatory hand gestures. McCollum probably wants to stuff Facu in a locker. Buckle up, folks. The NBA has a great rivalry on its hands.