Nikola Jokić – A+
Nikola Jokić was nearly perfect against Memphis. Three pesky turnovers were the only mistakes in an otherwise flawless work. Jokić finished 11/11 from the field and 2/2 from the free-throw line while posting 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. He also blocked two shots. Jokić has now recorded three triple-doubles without missing a field goal attempt. If you can believe it, he joins Wilt Chamberlain as co-owner of that record.
We rarely discuss what’s encouraging or discouraging for Nikola Jokić anymore. It’s always about production because he almost always produces. Recent exceptions left a sour taste in our mouths. This game served as a palate cleanser. Jokić put on a clinic in and around the paint with his otherworldly touch on full display. Even when Memphis was determined to make it hard, it all looked too easy. In truth, it was, especially with Jamal Murray balling out alongside him.
Jamal Murray – A+
Jamal Murray is bac—**yanked off stage by the vaudeville hook**
Jamal Murray is tearing it up. He carried his playoff form into the very start of the season before eventually shutting it down for a bit to deal with the hamstring strain. He looks that dominant again on the other side of the injury. There’s an unmissable crispness to Murray’s best basketball. His ball-handling, shiftiness, and decision-making all level up. We’re used to seeing it in the postseason, and we’re hopeful this is life with Murray in the regular season from now on. He was outstanding in the pick-and-roll, and the Nuggets looked virtually unstoppable.
Murray finished with 23 points and 9 assists on 9/12 shooting. His night was over after roughly 25 minutes on the floor. That’s excellent news in a back-to-back.
Peyton Watson – A
Peyton Watson earned the spot start over Justin Holiday in Aaron Gordon’s absence. Holiday has already shown he fits in neatly when needed, but Malone opted for the developmental route. He couldn’t pass up the golden opportunity for Watson —significant time alongside Jokić and the fellas. The kid delivered.
Initially, Watson’s presence mucked up the spacing. Memphis utterly ignored him on the perimeter. The first step to slowing the Nuggets is identifying a non-shooter and committing to making life harder for Jokić. But Watson found a simple solution: shoot the ball. He got ten threes up in the win, knocking down four.
Watson was as open as open gets for those looks. Still, that’s the big hurdle to clear when playing these minutes. If they don’t guard you, you have to make them pay. Watson was fearless. He’s oozing confidence right now.
Michael Porter Jr. – B
MPJ put on his best KCP impression against Memphis. He took the fewest shots among the starters, knocked down half of them, shot 2/3 from deep, and played great defense. Porter was locked in, displaying timely rotations and physical perimeter defense instead of flashy blocks this time. He also published the best-ever English-speaking interview with Jokić on his YouTube show. Curious Mike earned some ‘Glue Guy’ points on Thursday.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – B
Not an impression. Not a shadow but the form. KCP played his game while the starters rolled. He finished with 12 points on 5/10 shooting and 2/5 from distance. He also picked up three assists. He did not receive the DPOG chain this time, however.
DeAndre Jordan – B+
Michael Malone was worried about Memphis scoring in the paint. He spoke on that in the pregame availability while assuming Ja Morant would play. Morant didn’t, but Jordan did anyway, and he earned the DPOG chain with his two blocks off the bench. He also picked up nine rebounds in roughly 12 minutes and recorded two assists.
Julian Strawther – C+
Strawther was the gunner in the non-Jokić minutes. He finished with 13 field goal attempts in the win. Only Watson shot more. Strawther missed a lot of open looks against the Grizzlies, but I didn’t mind the high volume. With Watson bumped up and Reggie Jackson struggling from the field lately, someone had to be aggressive off the bench.
Christian Braun – B+
Braun notched four assists without turning it over. He was aggressive, an essential ingredient to his best basketball. He attempted two 3s and took all other shots in the paint. He’s willing to attack the teeth of the defense, a quality Denver generally lacks. He also knocked down one of those three-point attempts.
Reggie Jackson – B
Reggie Jackson, the playmaker. Seven assists highlighted his solid performance off the bench. He’s been a great pick-and-roll player this season. He picked up a couple of nice assists by finding Jokić on the ground and Jordan in the air.
Justin Holiday – B-
Two threes, two rebounds, and two steals for Holiday off the bench. Every Nugget played, and every Nugget scored against the Grizzlies.
A wise man once said: “All the Nuggets are good.”
