The Denver Nuggets are shorthanded. Alright, that might be an understatement. With Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee, and Gary Harris (personal reasons) inactive, the Nuggets are being held together by the miracle of duct tape. With an ever-competent division rival in the Utah Jazz visiting, the Nuggets were at risk of unraveling, but their best player refused to lose. Hours after news of his second consecutive All-Star selection broke, Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets to an improbable 106-100 victory.

The first half wasn’t particularly encouraging. Jokić came out of the gate at a million miles per hour, going right at the stalwart defensive anchor Rudy Gobert. But Gobert’s reputation is well earned. He planted himself in the paint and made life difficult for any Nugget who dared approach the rim. Denver needed willing and capable shooters, but Jokić didn’t spend much time on the court with those who fit the bill.

Monte Morris and Torrey Craig started in place of Murray and Harris — with Barton III moving to SG – and Jokić was left with mountains to move on the offensive end. He obliged, keeping the Nuggets in it. Meanwhile, Craig more than made up for his sometimes detrimental effect on the starting unit’s offense with a signature performance guarding Donovan Mitchell. Utah’s All-Star was held to just four points on 1-of-11 from the floor and turned the ball over four times.

Denver looked a different team in the second half. They pounced on a window of opportunity in the third quarter and engineered an outrageous 27-1 run spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter. The Jazz pushed back to make it a game late — namely Jordan Clarkson, who finished with 37 points, including 24 in the fourth, joining a hilarious list of unexpected Nuggets killers — but Jokić was just too good down the stretch.

“To me, that might be our best win of the year,” Head Coach Michael Malone told the media after the game.

Let’s go the grades:

Honor Roll

Nikola Jokić – A+

Thursday night’s performance was one of the best games that one of the league’s best players has ever turned in. The box score might be somewhat underwhelming given that lofty preface, but Jokić put the shorthanded squad on his back.

In 36 minutes, he scored 28 points on 11-of-19 from the floor and dished out ten assists. Not every assist is created equal, and the handful he accrued by taking it right at the reigning defensive player of the year only to clear a small window for a late crash from a teammate shouldn’t be overlooked. The ball wasn’t popping. The threes weren’t falling. Three of the starters weren’t even playing. But Jokić found a way. He kept them in it from the jump, and he flat out won it single-handedly by scoring 11 of the team’s final 12 points — all of them coming consecutively. He stepped up big time on the defensive end as well, but as his head coach pointed out after the game, too much focus on his on-the-court production would be an injustice to one of the most significant developments of the season — his growth as a leader.

“I don’t know if you can see into our huddles,” Malone told the media after the game, “every huddle he was talking to his guys.” Malone is right to highlight the latest and perhaps most crucial step Jokić has taken in his still-young career. He is a generational offensive talent and a unique basketball mind. The Nuggets, of course, benefit from that on the court, but he has more to give as a leader.

After the game, a media member asked Jokić if it’s been difficult to embrace that challenge. “No,” he quipped “I just didn’t want to do it.”

When pressed, he followed up by explaining he’s wary of spreading the “wrong information.”

Jokić is Denver’s best player, and it seems as though he’s finally grasping the scope of that responsibility.

Torrey Craig – A+

I could post Torrey Craig’s line, but it might be more impactful to share Mitchell’s again. 4 points on 1-of-11, and four turnovers. Some of it was good fortune, as Mitchell is capable of dropping 30-plus on any given night. And as Craig pointed out after the game, it wasn’t all him. “I thought we did a good job,” he replied when I asked him if this type of performance is something he can hang his hat on — a modest and professional response. But too modest. Craig was spectacular in this win.

Micahel Porter Jr. – A-

MPJ collected another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes on the court. He was impressive but made the honor roll with a strong defensive performance. He was a deterrent around the rim and showed his ability to impact a game with his physical tools. Most important, he was on the floor and a contributor to the 27-1 run.

The Class

Jerami Grant – B

Grant scored 15 points on 50% from the field and grabbed five rebounds in his 33 minutes. He finished the game +12. Not much to write home about, but another indication that Grant is growing increasingly comfortable in his new home.

Will Barton III – B-

Barton III seemed to teeter in and out of control, but all told he dropped 18 points and 5 rebounds in his 36 minutes. Malone has leaned on Barton III heavily so far, and it looks to be taking a toll. Still, he hit some flat out ridiculous shots on Thursday night.

Monte Morris – C+

Morris got the start and logged 32 minutes. He wasn’t spectacular, putting up seven points and four assists while turning it over twice.

Malik Beasley – C+

Beasley hit just two of his eight field-goal attempts—only 1-of-4 from deep—but picked up three rebounds and four assists. The growing momentum behind the “keep Beasley” movement has dissipated almost as quickly as it introduced itself to the 2019-20 dialogue. We’ve seen flashes of his talent, reminding us of the upside, but he needs to find his rhythm from behind the arc again. Denver needs a lights out shooter. Only Beasley and MPJ should be expected to fill that role.

PJ Dozier – C+

Dozier was a slightly more efficient night away from a comfortable “B” grade. His outstanding size at his position stood out as he proved a tough shake on defense, and he played with no fear offensively. Dozier’s shooting and shot selection will be the pivotal factors in deciding whether there’s a real conversation to be had about the backup point guard position.

Jarred Vanderbilt – N/A

Goose eggs in 3 minutes played.

Game Ball