Nikola Joki and the Denver Nuggets Get Back on Track at Home

A+ for Nikola Jokic

Nikola Joki is back to his hyper-efficient ways. Nobody is taken aback. But this is the first time we’ve questioned his ability to execute on any level since Game 3 in the bubble. The collective existential crisis was triggered by watching him miss from the paint. Our worldview remains intact on the other side of the fleeting panic. Nikola Joki is still the finest player in the world. And the Denver Nuggets continue to be the team to beat.

Denver’s strong home win over the Brooklyn Nets was highlighted by the defense. And Nikola Jokic was instrumental in the success. He and Justin Holiday shared the game’s defensive player chain. The perimeter defenders did an excellent job of obstructing passing lanes and knocking shooters off the line. Michael Malone praised Joki for his disruptive pick-and-roll defense. He forced a few uncomfortable looks in the paint as the last line of defense. Cam Thomas doesn’t mind awkward looks, so it worked out well for everyone.

Jokic also brought some outrage to the celebration. He finished with a typical Triple-Double of 26-15-10 on 8/12 shooting with one turnover. His approach was arguably the strongest element of his performance. A fatigued, inferior opponent made the trip to Denver. An opponent who is unfit to deal with Joki. He might have used it as a “statement game,” a high-scoring declaration that he’s back. Instead, he saw it as a must-win game for the squad and engineered an outstanding team performance.

A Jamal Murray

Murray’s stats appear ordinary because the Nuggets played so brilliantly. In a blowout from start to finish, he and the starters swapped statistics for rest. Murray was extremely effective while he was on the court. He hit a variety of difficult shots — the classic Murray package from mid-range. But it was his shot readiness that really stood out to me. In 12 games, he’s hitting 45% from deep. He’s particularly decisive in catch-and-shoot situations.

Murray was also outstanding defensively. In the passing lanes, he and Justin Holiday caused chaos. Murray had three steals on a night when Denver established a season best in that statistic.

A – Aaron Gordon

In recent games, AG has taken advantage of mismatches. His physicality is exploding on the screen once more, and he’s punishing smaller forwards when given the chance. In his most recent appearances, he demonstrated a terrific blend of ferocious bully-bull and elegant ball movement.

C – Michael Porter Jr.

Porter only had nine points and went 1-4 from deep. He missed a big number of makeable shots just as it appeared he’d turned a corner from three-point range. Those who demand more uniformity have a valid point. Meanwhile, he at least rebounded and played with vigor. There was no harm, no foul in the 23-point victory.

B- Justin Holiday

Holiday shot terribly, but he had four steals. Holiday took KCP’s place in the Nuggets’ starting lineup. Denver appeared to deflect or steal every effort at a cross-court pass. They messed up everything going on in the middle of the floor. It appeared to be an especially vexing defeat to endure.

A+ for Peyton Watson

Michael Malone has done an excellent job of allocating high-leverage minutes to the young players. He’s teaching them how to play through tense situations, refine their skills, and perform specific positions alongside champions.

Watson’s minutes were a little different this time. With the starters on the bench, he was free to experiment with his attacking game. It led to his best offensive performance of his young career. Watson attacked the rim with a dazzling display of length and athleticism. He made 2/5 three-pointers. He even got up and looked for teammates, finishing with five assists.

C+ for Julian Strawther

Strawther didn’t shoot well, but he still had an impact. In a pinch, he can place the ball on the floor. He’s a capable and eager defender. He also rebounds well off the bench on occasion. If the jumper isn’t falling, some shooters fade to the background. That is only occasionally the case with this novice. He has more to offer.

B – Christian Braun

At home, Christian Braun put on a Bruce Brown-esque display. He concluded with one steal, two blocks, and the biggest slam of the season for the Denver Nuggets, which sent the audience to its feet.

C+ for Reggie Jackson

This time, Jackson didn’t fire it up. It wasn’t his most efficient performance, either. He did, however, provide some spark off the bench, finishing with 12 points, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

C – DeAndre Jordan

The most important thing to remember about DAJ’s performance is that he played at all. On paper, this was a matchup that called for Zeke Nnaji. Jordan continued to play. He was the only Nugget to end in the red, but he was still useful after 12 minutes.