Nikola Jokić – A+

Who has it more challenging in the modern NBA than the defensively inclined centers? Only Bam Adebayo and a few others can survive, let alone thrive on defense in a perimeter-oriented game. But all the versatility in the world won’t help you when toe-to-toe with behemoths like the back-to-back MVP. Bam didn’t faze Jokić. Jokić didn’t see Bam. One of the league’s best defenders looked just as helpless as his teammate, Orlando Robinson, when trying to slow 15.

Jokić seems pretty comfortable in Miami. From dominating the court to hitting the club with his crew, it’s become an unexpected home away from home for the giant from Sombor. He played like it was a home game Monday night.

Unfathomable box scores spoil us, so at a glance, his may not register as noteworthy this time. But consider the insane efficiency, the zero turnovers, and the production on the road without Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon. It was another masterclass. I bet Nikola Jović is still texting his friends about it.

Michael Porter Jr. – B

Porter got his shots up as the second option. He took 13 threes against a formidable Miami defense and knocked five down. A small handful of his jumpers were ill-advised, and that’s being kind. But the truth is, Porter’s willingness to work from where he’s adept puts pressure on defenses. He can’t be left open.

Porter also had quite an interesting night defensively. While there were prolonged stretches of certified confusion on his end, there were also impressive flashes of his growth. Jimmy Butler might have helped himself to a king’s feast two years ago by hunting him out via the switch. He tried it a few times Monday night, but it yielded different results. A light bulb has gone off over Porter’s head, which stands nearly seven feet off the ground. For all his perimeter prowess, Porter is extensive. His timing is different now. He prepares to lose a step and make up the ground with his long contests. That will be put to the test relentlessly in the postseason, but it deterred quality looks in Miami.

Vlatko Čančar – B

Drop the irony. And drop the caveats if you haven’t already. Čančar is giving quality minutes to the one seed out West. He’s earned a spot in this rotation as long as he’s here, and if it’s not there when everyone’s healthy, he should seek out a team that will give it to him. Michael Malone gave him another spot start in Miami, then another DPOG chain after his impressive effort.

Čančar might not be elite in any area at this level, save for the half-court shot. But he has so few deficiencies. A professional since his teenage years — Vlatko knows what he’s doing out there. The experience pops.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – B-

Kentavious Shootwell-Pope. Kenny P rediscovered the stroke in Miami. He didn’t take many shots, but most looked good out of his hands. He was also the stagger man Monday night. The first stint went much better than the second, but he and the second unit put their fingerprints on a quality road win. KCP finished with six assists and defended well, as he’s wont to do.

Bruce Brown – B-

Brown shot the ball well, redeeming a somewhat shaky performance as the stand-in point guard. The offense looked noticeably different down the stretch, and understandably so. Not only does Murray’s self-creation inspire fear and, subsequently, doubt in how to defend Denver’s go-to pick-and-roll. But there’s a rhythm to the dance. It’s a rhythm Murray and Jokić discovered through countless repetitions. They don’t need to think about it. They feel it.

Christian Braun – B

Braun got his hands dirty with four rebounds, four assists, and ten points. He rarely makes mistakes, but even when he does, he never takes a play-off. He and Bruce Brown must have the craziest Fitbit numbers.

Three of Braun’s assists came from passing the ball to MPJ. The other was to Jokić. There’s a pattern here — Braun isn’t trying to take shots away from any starters. He knows his role. When he did look to score, he was impressive. He drilled a corner three, earned Jokić an assist with a strong interior finish, and put Porter’s errant three back where it belonged after crashing the glass.

Thomas Bryant – B

Bryant got involved in Denver’s 2023 campaign with 14:08 off the bench in Miami. He looked as advertised — shaky defense, some quick fouling, but easy buckets on the other end. He scored his 10 points in a hurry. There’s plenty to be excited about by his first stint. Already, we can see a path to half-court offense in the non-Jokić minutes. Like the rest of the bench, he wasn’t as impressive the next time out. But the bar is low right now, and the bench played a big role in the win.

Jeff Green – B-

If willing to address Green’s startling lack of effort some nights, it’s only fair for a critic to acknowledge when he’s played harder. Green did just that in Miami, and while the production dried up by the time he left the floor, he was still the bench’s leading scorer with 12 points.

Ish Smith – B-

It can be a little too easy to score on Ish. And the mid-range game is losing some of its charm already. Before this gets away from me, however, I’d be remiss to ignore his playmaking for a group that needs it. The ball popped for the second unit, and Ish led the way with six assists.

All the Nuggets were good. Shout out D-Line.