Grades: Nuggets Show Fight, Lack Composure in Game 3

The Denver Nuggets finally played with pride, but they lacked composure in the clutch, and the rest of the series is but a formality now. Here’s the report card from Game 3 in Ball.

Nikola Jokić – A+

Nikola Jokić played like an MVP in Game 3. He scored on Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, and anyone in his way. He dominated the glass too. Beyond a display of willpower and feathery touch in the paint, Jokić also rediscovered his touch from deep. His performance gave hope not just for a win but possibly a chance at leveling the series in Denver. He’d figured it out. But Draymond has a knack for finding the last laugh, and he helped seal the win with a clutch time strip of Jokić, who also rushed and missed a shot in the final minutes. It wasn’t a perfect performance and didn’t have the perfect ending, but Jokić put a reminder game together in Ball Arena. It just wasn’t enough.

Aaron Gordon – B+

AG’s back could not have been further against the wall. There was no time left to prove to himself and his teammates that he could do this. He came to play Thursday night. Gordon battled on the glass, stuffed Draymond at the rim, who’d spent the first two games stuffing AG in a locker, and knocked down a massive three late in the fourth. He played with a sense of urgency and played with pride. It was winning playoff basketball from AG. It was just too little, too late.

Will Barton – D+

Barton nearly put a decent game together, but his worst traits as a player flared up in the final minutes. He failed to box out Andrew Wiggings in crunch time, leading to a backbreaking offensive rebound.

This is a winning play! Not the Poole bucket, the Wiggins rebound is a monster rebound. pic.twitter.com/epFtnOQNKf

— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) April 22, 2022

Then launched a deep 3 with ten seconds left on the shot clock and Jokić having drawn the switch. Jokić didn’t appear to want the ball, but there was time to find a better look. Instead, Barton fired away.

Jeff Green – F

I’m not sure what Jeff Green is bringing to this series. He’s not a threat to score, he’s not a good defender, and he’s not a good rebounder. Malone smartly opted to close the first half with Rivers in for Green, which paid off. But for whatever reason, Green was on the floor down the stretch.

Monte Morris – D+

Morris missed four of his five attempts from deep, and three of those misses were heartbreaking. Two came in the final minutes, and both came from the corners. He missed a wide-open look to take the lead and air-balled another, which would have tied the game. He had a chance to be the hero, and he came up empty.

The Bench – C-

In their first stint, the bench was competent, playing effectively through Boogie, who bullied an undersized and underwhelming second unit from Golden State. But for however unstoppable Boogie looked in that small window, Denver was trading 2s for 3s. The Warriors were trading possessions comfortably enough. The second half minutes were much higher leverage and much less successful. Cousins scored zero points and traveled twice in roughly 3:30 on the floor. Rivers committed four fouls in six minutes. Hyland got some buckets, but Denver lost crucial minutes while they waited for Jokić.

Michael Malone – F

Fouls notwithstanding, Rivers made more sense in the final minutes than Jeff Green. But beyond the ever-beloved playoff adjustments — or lack thereof, Malone brought a defeatist attitude to this series. Not once did he inspire belief through the media. The goal was not to get embarrassed. The analogies were rife with resignation. A 3-0 hole feels appropriate, considering he approached this entire series as if that’s how it began.

The Fans – A+

Nuggets fans took a beating this week. Malone ripped into them preemptively for a lacking presence at home, and their inability to flood their arena became a talking point locally. But in the end, it was a passionate pro-Nuggets crowd that watched their favorite basketball team fall short.

You all held your end of the bargain.