Nikola Jokić – A+
Nikola Jokić couldn’t help himself. He loves basketball too much. While teammates and foes alike drifted through a late-season game, the soon-to-be 3x MVP jumped at the opportunity to solve another puzzle on the court. The young phenom Victor Wembanyama was in town, and he presented genuinely unique challenges. Jokić embraced them.
Jokić has already developed a strategy for Wembanyama, or at least the rookie version. He cranked up his work rate, hustled up the court, and did most of his work off-ball. A stationary approach in the post left him vulnerable to blocked shots. Even with a clear lane, you could practically see the gears turning for Jokić. He’s ever-aware of Wembanyama’s positioning. He never assumed he was home-free.
Jokić learned that a strength advantage wasn’t enough when the two bigs clashed in the post. The rookie’s length allows for remarkable recoveries, even when fully dislodged from his spot. Jokić eventually turned to a big, lofty hook shot. It was beautiful to watch. Jokić got his way in the end, amassing 42 points on 32 shots. Still, the rookie impressed, blocking nine shots and nearly posting a quadruple-double. The mutual respect was palpable between the two. This should be a fascinating matchup for years to come.
Michael Porter Jr. – B-
The good: Michael Porter Jr. recorded a career-high 16 rebounds while posting three assists, one steal, and one block.
The bad: Porter also shot 5/16 from the field and was the only starter to post a negative plus/minus.
The redemption: Porter made the most important shot of the night, an open three from the right wing that essentially won Denver the game.
Aaron Gordon – A+
Gordon shot 2/4 from deep and 3/3 from the free throw line, which was a welcome surprise given Denver’s general shotmaking woes. He scored 23 points with remarkable efficiency while posting seven rebounds and four assists. Ultimately, he stayed true to his identity, doing most of his damage as Jokić’s sidekick in the paint. He was virtually flawless.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – D
Pope poured it in against the Cavaliers, but the scoring dried up almost entirely against the Spurs. He shot 12% from the field.
Reggie Jackson – D
Jackon’s final shot attempt best summarizes his night. Flanked by an open Jokić and Porter, Jackson challenged Wembanyama with a running floater in crunch time. If you missed it, close your eyes and picture it. It went as poorly as you think.
Christian Braun – B-
Braun joined Jokić in the work rate department, grinding off the ball and showcasing some playmaking ability while on the move. He recorded seven assists in the win, including a wise decision to find Porter for the big shot rather than challenging Wemby at the rim.
Peyton Watson – B
Watson played frenetic basketball against the Spurs. He brought energy off the bench, blocking two shots and grabbing six rebounds. He also knocked down a couple of smooth jumpers, a smooth turnaround from the short mid-range, and a nice-looking three.
Justin Holiday – B
Holiday contributed an all-around effort off the bench. His highlight was a two-way sequence that featured him stopping Wembanyama near the rim and scoring on the ensuing possession with a sweet jumper high off the glass.
