Grades: Spurs Score at Will, Denver Nuggets Drop the First in San Antonio

Nikola Jokić – B+

The good: Jokić recorded another triple-double, tying James Harden for seventh-most in NBA history with 62. The bad: Jokić’s three-point shooting and defense — particularly the latter. The Nuggets couldn’t contain the perimeter, and a tired Jokić, already tasked with saving the offense, didn’t have enough in the tank to step up and help. His defense is crashing back down to earth, which, to me, says less about what he’s capable of than what he’s capable of sustaining while lifting an entire roster on his shoulders. Few superstars provide that level of two-way impact all season long, and Jokić is already easing off the throttle.

Aaron Gordon – A-

Gordon played an excellent game on the offensive end, although he wasn’t much of an antidote to the at-will penetration from San Antonio’s guards. Still, Gordon can’t be responsible for every assignment at a certain point, especially when he’s cooking on the other end. Gordon found success on the drive and underneath the rim, where he routinely sealed off undersized defenders and awaited the special delivery from Jokić. It was easy money, and Gordon needed someone else to step up and help on the other end. Denver’s guards offered no resistance.

Will Barton – C+

Will Barton played a decent game offensively but struggled on the other end and turned it over three times. His handle looked particularly sloppy Thursday night. He shot the ball well and did score 19 points, but it wasn’t his best all-around effort. Like virtually every other player on the roster, he failed to contain. The San Antonio guards walked down a red carpet to the rim.

Jeff Green – D

Green fouled out after 23:27 on the court, and he only grabbed one rebound during those minutes. Green is no rebounding specialist, and he’s an aging player on a back-to-back, but Denver needed more from him on a night when the Spurs destroyed them on the glass. He finished with as many fouls as he did points, rebounds, and assists combined. Green was also less than stellar defensively.

Monte Morris – C+ 

Morris shot well from three-point range and recorded five assists to just the one turnover. He struggled from the floor overall, however, and was too small on defense. Morris never made the opposition uncomfortable.

Facundo Campazzo – B

Campazzo played a good game in San Antonio. His height—or lack thereof—hurt him on several closeouts, but he played his tail off. He clogged passing lanes, contested shots from players he wasn’t guarding, and covered an insane amount of ground.

Offensively, his stroke returned. All four of Facu’s field goals came from distance, where he shot 4 of 6. He recorded three assists to zero turnovers as well. Unfortunately, it didn’t add up to much. The Spurs’ second unit crushed them.

Zeke Nnaji – D

After stating he’s not one to grow complacent with a taste of success, Nnaji’s tasting failure again. Outside of three-point shooting and pick-and-roll defense, he’s not offering much. Denver needs to do a better job of getting him involved, and he remains stuck on the perimeter, but he has to impact the game more on the glass—especially when not scoring. He finished scoreless in 14:08 on the floor and did not grab a single rebound.

Bones Hyland – D

Bones shot 2 of 10 and played abysmal defense. The rookie struggled mightily in his second game back from quarantine.

JaMychal Green – C+

Green responded with another decent night as a scorer, but he played poor defense and only grabbed one rebound in 12 minutes. It was nice to see him shoot 2-4 from deep.

Davon Reed – C-

I like the way Reed is playing. He’s just limited. He was neither the problem nor the solution for the bench Thursday night.