Nikola Jokić – A+
Nikola Jokić reached the 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, and 3,000 assists mark in the second-fewest games in NBA history. It took him one more (516) than Larry Bird (515), but Jokić accomplished the feat in 4,000 fewer minutes than the legend. He’s made it look easy so far, just as he did against the Wizards Wednesday night.
Jokić finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 10 of 14 shooting. He needed only 26:18 on the floor to post that line and push the game far out of reach. That was seemingly a priority for Jokić, who played the first half with unexpected intensity. It never looked difficult for him, but he pressed hard to stamp out the embers lest a slight breeze breathed life into the Wizards. He extinguished the threat and watched from the bench while the second unit closed the door in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Michael Malone admitted that Jokić’s back was tightening up a bit, so he was thrilled to leave him on the bench for the finale. That’s, of course, something to monitor going forward.
Will Barton – C
The ball was popping, and everyone got in on the assist party, including Barton, who finished with five and did not turn the ball over. The praise stops there, however. It was a quiet night for him as a scorer, and the defense came and went. All is well that ends well for Thrill and company.
Aaron Gordon – C+
Gordon does not look right. He played despite appearing on the injury report for the second straight game with a non-covid illness. He looks hindered beyond the illness, but I’ll reserve any conclusions for a later date should we learn more about his status. In the meantime, Gordon gritted it out again and was somewhat effective despite how sloppy it looked. He also finished the possession of the game for Denver:
The ball movement on this Nuggets possession… pic.twitter.com/l8cUKg2BoB
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) March 17, 2022
Monte Morris – B+
Morris got it going as a finisher, burying threes and cutting through the paint as an eager beneficiary of Jokić’s brilliance. He put up 15 points on 11 shots and posted four assists to one turnover — The Monte.
Jeff Green – C+
I don’t have much here. I can tell you that Jeff did appear in this game.
Bones Hyland – A
The rook did it again. Bones followed up his break-out party with a complete performance in DC. He didn’t just lead all Nuggets off the bench with 17 points. He also posted five assists to only two turnovers. He got in on the rebounding action, too, grabbing six. He was engaged, composed, and explosive. The kid from Wilmington is on a roll.
Boogie Cousins – B+
Cousins also produced a complete performance, scoring 14 on 12 shots and dishing out three assists. The ball movement was great all night for both units, prompting Malone to laud “Denver Nuggets basketball,” a pass-first approach that he also deemed “the best way to play and watch the game.”
Cousins has positively affected the second unit in more than one way. He is a skilled big, capable of grabbing rebounds, scoring, and keeping the ball moving, but he’s also a bully on the court, and the Nuggets have discovered an edge. After the game, Austin Rivers referred to Cousins and JaMychal Green as the “bash brothers,” who “scare people sometimes.” I have a feeling Cousins likes that description.
Austin Rivers – B-
Rivers played well off the bench, then took to the podium after beating his old team. He had much to say about the newfound consistency for the second unit, reflecting on everyone going in and out of the lineup for various reasons. But through it all, everyone, from the MVP to those on the fringe of the rotation, has stayed ready.
“Our whole team has exemplified professionalism this whole season,” Rivers said. “Which I think is why we’re one of the better teams in the NBA.”
