Grades: Shorthanded Nuggets Survive Against Shorthanded Warriors

Nikola Jokić – B+

With no Jamal Murray, Draymond Green, Michael Porter Jr., or Klay Thompson, Jokić vs. Curry took up even more space in the spotlight. It was MVP vs. MVP, with little help and no excuses—a prize fight in the muck. In the end, what we’ve come to appreciate about each player was reinforced. They’re team-oriented superstars, and without their running mates, neither looked a world-beater.

The bar is high for Jokić, who accrued 22 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists yet did not meet his standard offensively. He did not look himself in crunch time, as he hasn’t on several occasions in December. Layer one of this is the injuries — Jokić-Murray pick-and-rolls dominate our dreams of yesterday. Layer two is the yips Denver’s guards are developing for the entry pass. They’re either incapable or unwilling to engage in a once fundamental basketball act, and opposing defenses are entirely unbothered by the consequences of full-scale denial. The opposition is begging someone else on Denver to beat them, and that approach is bearing fruit — but Jokić found a way to deny Golden State anyway.

He picked up his third game-winning block of the calendar year, and Denver left Chase Center unscathed.

Nikola Jokic has 3 game-winning blocks in 2021. pic.twitter.com/mCWtPKQ5y2

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) December 29, 2021

Will Barton – B+

Barton turned it over three times in the first quarter but made up for it with an overdue scoring burst. He dropped 14 points in the first 10 minutes of action and was Denver’s most effective scorer on the night. He fell off in the second half, knocking down just one of his seven field-goal attempts, but we all remember the one. Barton called his number with less than a minute remaining, missing not once but twice at the rim before tipping it back up and in. It was a crucial bucket as Denver re-took the lead 86-84. We got the whole Barton experience on Tuesday night. Ultimately, Denver doesn’t win without him.

Austin Rivers – B+

Rivers played a poor fourth quarter. Steph finally got hot, and Rivers drew the ire of Jokić on several occasions as he appeared unsure of where to be. That should not detract from the job he did defensively. Rivers took the lion’s share of the Steph responsibility and did his part in keeping the most dangerous shooter of all time out of rhythm. Curry indeed missed some shots he’s capable of making, but all you can do is make it challenging. Rivers did.

Facundo Campazzo – B+

Campazzo caught the spot start in place of the unavailable Monte Morris and aided in the stifling of Curry. He only shot five times and recorded seven assists to his one turnover. He tacked on four rebounds, two steals, and a block as well. He took a great approach and helped earn a great result. Let Facu Grow.

Jeff Green – C+

Jeff Green does not get a B+. Sorry, Jeff Green.

Since we’re on the topic of Jeff Green, however:

Both JaMychal Green and Jeff Green have had some of the best dunks of the #Nuggets season tonight. Jeff with a smoooooth reverse alley-oop! Damn pops!! pic.twitter.com/byOIY3NeL1

— JB Denver Sports🎟️ (@JB_DenverSports) December 29, 2021

Davon Reed – B

Reed played exceptional defense and filled in nicely once again. We did catch the first legitimate stain on his short tenure in Denver, though. He took a quick, contested three with 16 seconds left on the shot clock, 6:27 left in the game, and Denver leading by five. It’s an extremely specific gripe, and all is well that ends well, but it was noticeably out of character. His tenacity on defense is welcome all the same. Mr. Dependable remains aptly named.

Zeke Nnaji – B-

Nnaji took a great approach to the game, going up strong for better or worse and looking generally formidable around the rim. His rebounding is still a work in progress, but the youngster played confidently, an essential aspect of his success.

JaMychal Green – B-

Green logged the least time of any player except for Golden State’s Chris Chiozza Tuesday night, but he gave Denver decent minutes. He ultimately committed one too many fouls, racking up four in 12:41 on the floor. Still, he played hard, and most importantly, rolled to the rim hard, bending the defense, and resulting in a cathartic dunk for a player who badly needs something to build on. 

JaMychal Green with his best dunk of the season (and probably one of the better of his career), with the assist from Facu Campazzo.#Nuggets #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/8G880Y6JCz

— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) December 29, 2021

Bones Hyland – C-

Hyland forced the issue as the bench went bone dry in the second half, chucking up bombs in lieu of real offense as the lead slipped through Denver’s fingers like sand. He struggled even more on the other end, where the skinny rookie looked overmatched physically. Hyland is sputtering, but that won’t detract from his opportunities. The bench needs him.