The Incomplete Denver Nuggets Fail to Secure Important Win

Jamal Murray – D+

Murray was the center of Oklahoma City’s attention on defense. Nikola Jokić never made the trip due to low back pain. That put pressure on Denver’s other max players to scale up and deliver a big win against a fellow Western Conference Power—something they haven’t done consistently.

Murray started hot but couldn’t carry it into a four-quarter effort as OKC released the hounds. Lu Dort harassed Murray, the Thunder sent multiple defenders at him when needed, and the referees green-lit a physical game on defense. Still, those are often the circumstances All-Star caliber players face. When complete, the Nuggets boast the best starting five in the league. But without Jokić, it’s clear why they still don’t have that second All-Star. That’s not who Murray is in the regular season. The same can be said for their third-best scorer.

Michael Porter Jr. – D

Porter’s never shined without Jokić. That didn’t change against Oklahoma City, as the Nuggets lost the season series and tiebreaker to a division foe. MPJ missed his first three shots. They each looked rushed and hopeless out of his hands. He at least played impactful defense in the first half, but his missed open shots left the door open for the Thunder.

His shot returned at the start of the fourth quarter while Denver worked their way back into the game. But his focus drifted. He was arguably in the best position to grab the most significant rebound of the night. Fifty-fifty balls aren’t exactly his thing. He missed a golden opportunity to salvage his performance. The same can be said of Murray, who didn’t exactly hustle on that possession.

Aaron Gordon – A

Mr. Nugget was the best Nugget without Jokić on the floor. He recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks. He was relentless from start to finish, nearly willing his team to an improbable victory. Those seven assists were a game-high.

It wasn’t a perfect performance — Gordon struggled from the free throw line, which mattered in a close loss. But there’s no denying he stepped up. The refs allowed a physical game, and no one in a Nuggets uniform was more up for it than AG. He applied the pressure and supplied the highlights.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – C-

Denver held a slim lead at the half thanks to an exceptional effort on defense. All five starters played a role, with KCP and AG spearheading the effort. SGA shot just 4 of 12 in the first two quarters. But the MVP candidate poured in 22 second-half points while Pope fumbled multiple possessions down the stretch. He botched not one, not two, but three fast breaks after halftime. Two turnovers and a shockingly ill-advised fastbreak 3 helped sink the Nuggets.

Peyton Watson – C+

Watson caught the spot start without Jokić, which had the desired effect on the defense. All five starters were locked in on that end. This roster has a higher defensive gear than previous iterations. They’re on another level with KCP, Watson, and AG on the floor together. Unfortunately, Watson’s still learning to keep himself out of foul trouble. That limited his playing time. And Michael Malone opted to close with Reggie Jackson instead.

Reggie Jackson – C+

And to that point, Jackson led all Nuggets off the bench with 16 points on fairly efficient shooting. He shot 5/12 from the field but 2/3 from deep and 4/4 from the free throw line. Unfortunately, Denver’s second unit got crunched. And Jackson was guilty of a five-second violation during the failed comeback attempt.

Christian Braun – B+

Braun’s +/- is a bit unfair. The Nuggets lost his minutes, but he played well. It’s not just that he produced; he looked like Christian Braun again. He put together several beautiful possessions on defense, grabbed five rebounds, and knocked down a couple of 3s en route to his 10 points. Braun’s gone back to the basics in his last couple of performances.

Justin Holiday – C

Holiday checked in hit some shots and picked up a couple of stocks. But it didn’t add up to much.

Zeke Nnaji – F

If the bench aims to tread water while the best players rest, having Nnaji on the floor is like having stones in their pockets. He finished -12 in under nine minutes.