The Denver Nuggets looked far off from the same team that won the NBA championship in the 2022-23 season, falling short of scoring 100 points and losing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 102-87. The Nuggets had a horrific shooting night, going 35-99 from the field which was (no) good for 35.4%. They made a putrid 17.9% of their threes despite taking 39 of them and also had 15 turnovers.
To be fair, the Thunder did not shoot the ball well either, going 42.6% from the field and 22.2% from three. However, they had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28 points) and Chet Holmgren (25 points, 14 rebounds) pick up the slack when it counted and it ended up being a concerning defeat for the Denver Nuggets. It is time to rank all the Nuggets players for their disappointing performance last night, starting with superstar Nikola Jokic.
Nikola Jokic: B+
Stats: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 6-13 FG, 1-3 3-PT FG, 35 mins
Nikola Jokic showcased his all-around ability, finishing with a triple-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. His efficient shooting (6-of-13) highlighted his ability to score, while his passing continued to create opportunities for his teammates. Jokic also contributed defensively with two steals and a block. You can argue that Jokic did not have enough offensive support considering he was double-teamed for most of the night, but this performance was not quite the best from the three-time MVP and best player in the world.
Christian Braun: B+
Stats: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 8-15 FG, 0-3 3-PT FG, 29 mins
Christian Braun was one of the bright spots for the Nuggets, scoring 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. He played aggressively, finishing 8-of-15 from the field, but struggled with his three-point shooting, going 0-of-3. Braun’s energy on both ends of the court was crucial, as he added two steals and two blocks, proving he can be a reliable two-way player when needed. Braun was perhaps the only bright spot from this game because the Nuggets might have found their new long-term shooting guard.
Michael Porter Jr.: B-
Stats: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 5-17 FG, 3-10 3-PT FG, 32 mins
Michael Porter Jr. had a solid, albeit inefficient game, scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. His shooting woes (5-of-17) hindered his overall effectiveness, especially from three-point range (3-of-10). Porter’s ability to contribute offensively and on the boards kept him in the mix, but he’ll need to find a better rhythm moving forward to provide the Nuggets with the scoring punch they need. We expect Porter Jr to shoot better next game and start putting together at least B+ performances as the season progresses.
Aaron Gordon: B-
Stats: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 5-12 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 33 mins
Aaron Gordon contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds, playing a significant role in the frontcourt. His shooting performance (5-of-12) was decent, but like many of his teammates, he failed to connect from beyond the arc, missing his only three-point attempt. Gordon’s defensive presence was felt, but he needs to be more aggressive offensively to help ease the scoring burden on Jokic. The Thunder were able to double Jokic more often because the role players were not making shots, and that includes Gordon.
Jamal Murray: C+
Stats: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 4-14 FG, 2-6 3-PT FG, 38 mins
Jamal Murray struggled to find his shot, scoring only 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting. His 6 rebounds and 4 assists showed some positive contributions, but his overall performance was underwhelming given the expectations. Murray’s inefficiency, especially from three (2-of-6), limited his impact on the game, and he will need to find his scoring touch if the Nuggets want to contend. Considering Murray’s lofty standards, this unfortunately has to be rated a C performance from the star man.
Russell Westbrook: C+
Stats: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2-10 FG, 1-6 3-PT FG, 21 mins
In a limited role, Russell Westbrook finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. His shooting (2-of-10) was poor, but he contributed defensively with two blocks. Westbrook’s ability to facilitate the offense was overshadowed by his inefficiency, and he needs to find a way to be a more effective scorer, especially in critical moments when he is on the floor either alongside Jamal Murray or to give Murray some rest. Safe to say the former Thunder MVP did not quite hit the mark against his former team.
Julian Strawther: C
Stats: 6 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3-PT FG, 17 mins
Julian Strawther had a quiet game, contributing 6 points but failing to make an impact on the boards (0 rebounds). He shot 3-of-6 from the field, which is decent, but his lack of perimeter scoring (0-of-2 from three) limited his effectiveness. Strawther’s performance suggests he still has room to grow, and he needs to find ways to get involved more consistently.
Peyton Watson: C-
Stats: 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 1-7 FG, 0-4 3-PT FG, 15 mins
Peyton Watson had a rough outing, scoring only 2 points on a poor shooting night (1-of-7) while failing to connect on any of his four three-point attempts. He managed to contribute with 6 rebounds and 1 assist, but his overall offensive struggles detracted from his effectiveness on the court. Watson will need to work on his scoring to secure a more significant role because the Nuggets will desperately need offense from the bench as the season progresses.
Dario Saric: C-
Stats: 2 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 11 mins
Dario Saric provided limited production with 2 points and 1 rebound in 11 minutes of play. He made one of his two field goal attempts but didn’t have much of an impact on either end of the floor. Saric’s experience could help stabilize the bench, but he’ll need to be more productive to justify his minutes because the Nuggets fanbase were high on the big man joining the team this summer.
Zeke Nnaji: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 2 mins
Zeke Nnaji played only 2 minutes and did not register any stats besides a missed shot. His minimal contribution left no impact on the game, and he will need more opportunities to showcase his abilities. Perhaps Mike Malone should start giving Nnaji chances to come off the bench because there was little production from anyone else.
Trey Alexander: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 2 mins
Trey Alexander saw limited action with just 2 minutes on the court, recording 0 points and only 1 rebound. His short stint made it difficult to evaluate his performance, and he will need to make a stronger case for playing time in the future.
Jalen Pickett: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 2 mins
Jalen Pickett did not make a mark in his 2 minutes on the floor, going 0-for-1 from the field with no other stats. Like others with limited playing time, he’ll need to seize future opportunities to prove his value.
Hunter Tyson: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 2 mins
Hunter Tyson played 2 minutes and contributed 1 rebound, but failed to score. His brief appearance left little room for assessment, and he will need more opportunities to develop his game.
Vlatko Cancar: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3-PT FG, 2 mins
Vlatko Cancar also had a minimal impact with 2 minutes of play, recording only 1 rebound without attempting a shot. His lack of statistical contribution makes it challenging to evaluate his performance, but he will have to find ways to make a mark in future games.
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