The Denver Nuggets Are Still the Team to Beat

Nikola Jokić – A+

This game ended where the matchup started. Boston has no answer for Jokić, who bullied the Celtics for four quarters in Denver. The two best teams in the league clashed for the second time this season, and the defending champions prevailed again, thanks to the best player alive.

Jokić posted 32-12-11 with two steals and zero turnovers. He shot 58% from the field. Kristaps Porzingis was just too small. Jokić sent him flying with a shoulder before dunking for his first points of the game. He backed him deep under the basket before laying in his final points of the game. There were several variations of this outcome in the minutes between.

There’s nothing smaller players can do to stop Jokić from getting where he wants in the game’s closing moments—nothing besides fouling and sending help, which is so risky against the Nuggets. Elite shooters space the floor, and Aaron Gordon lurks behind the action, waiting to strike from the dunker spot. That was a central theme as the Nuggets closed out the Celtics. They drove the final nail home with their signature, the “Finale-Oop.”

Aaron Gordon – B+

Gordon’s preternatural gifts proved crucial to the win. He soared for alley-oops, slammed back a late miss, and slipped behind a generally cohesive defense. He didn’t just put together a highlight reel. He showcased why Denver is so difficult to match up with — even for the most complete roster in the league.

Jamal Murray – C+

Murray lit it up the last time these teams played, but he wasn’t the story in this win. He had his fingerprints on some crucial moments and recorded eight assists. Still, he also turned it over five times, including three in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t a terrific shotmaking night, either. He was just good enough.

Michael Porter Jr. – D

Porter scored only nine points, missed most of his threes, and fell asleep on defense several times. He wasn’t good. Thankfully, the Nuggets caught an off night from Derrick White, too.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – B

Pope led all players with three steals, all occurring while the lead was five points or less. He missed some open threes—every Nugget shot poorly from deep—but the Nuggets won thanks to plays like these. The man they call ‘First Team’ strikes again.

Reggie Jackson – C-

The Jackson minutes didn’t get any better against the Celtics. The headlines: he shot 2/7 from the floor and only logged eleven minutes. But the Nuggets survived. The second unit stepped up.

Christian Braun – B

Braun played quality minutes off the bench in Denver. He grabbed six boards, several of which jumped off the screen. I’m a broken record on CB right now — those types of plays are how he makes his money. Admittedly, Jaylen Brown gave Braun some buckets, but he had plenty more for the rest of the Nuggets. The bottom line is that Braun and the bench did their job.

Peyton Watson – A

Peyton Watson nearly outplayed Jayson Tatum. He wrought havoc off the bench defensively, as evidenced by his one steal and two blocks in roughly 17 minutes. He blocked each of Boston’s stars on their way to the rim. The second block, on Jaylen Brown, was violent. Watson launched himself into the air with virtually no regard for his well-being. He got what he wanted before taking a tumble over the head of Jokić. Everyone seemed fine when the dust settled. Number 8 is a madman.

Watson also shot 5/9 from the floor. The short mid-range jumper is emerging as his go-to move offensively. He’s confident in that shot. He came up clutch for Denver in the biggest game of the season.

Justin Holiday – C+

Justin Holiday played 13 minutes in the win. I don’t have a lot of notes on his performance, but his skillset does provide some intriguing lineup versatility for Michael Malone. Holiday is making a late push for consideration in the playoff rotation.

Zeke Nnaji – B-

Zeke played eight minutes against the Celtics. He contributed four points, two rebounds, and a steal. He did not turn the ball over. His highlight was an impressive defensive sequence on an island with Tatum. I enjoyed every second of it. Each player on the second unit finished with a positive +/- in a potential Finals preview. Go figure.