Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets Are Still the Best Closers in the NBA

With a win over the Warriors on Christmas Day, Denver and its two-time MVP reminded the league why defending against its starting five can feel like a futile attempt.

The Denver Nuggets sent another reminder of why they are the defending champs on Christmas Day.

The Nuggets grinded out a 120–114 win over the Golden State Warriors, and did so with a familiar formula: letting Nikola Jokić lead them down the stretch.

After the umpteenth time Denver’s bench wasn’t able to sustain a lead, Jokić entered the fourth quarter, with just over eight minutes to go and the Nuggets trailing 97–94. Over the rest of the game, Denver outscored Golden State 26–17.

It’s not breaking news to say when Jokić is on the floor, it’s nearly impossible for defenses to prevent the Nuggets from getting a good shot. Even on a day when Joker was struggling with his shot, Denver posted him up against Kevon Looney on four straight possessions, not long after the center re-entered the game. On those four plays, without the Warriors committing a hard double, Jokić scored twice, drew a foul, and found Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for an open three.

Jokić had 35 points and 13 rebounds Monday night :: Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

Whether he has the ball on the block or he’s running handoffs with Jamal Murray, Jokić is a riddle no has been able to solve yet.

The Nuggets haven’t been dominant to start this season; they are second in the West and have four more losses than the Timberwolves. Injuries have played a role, and after a strong start to the season, the bench has again been an issue as Michael Malone tries to find the right combos.

But the starting five, after a brief lull, has returned to form as one of the most complete units in the league. The group of Jokić, Murray, KCP, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. entered today with a 15.8 net rating—fourth best among lineups that have played at least 200 minutes together. Not only has that group proven itself going back to the start of last season, it’s also been tested during the playoffs, when it was a problem for stiff competition.

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Against the Warriors, everyone in Denver’s starting five was in the double digits in plus/minus, including a plus-21 for Jokić. And, thanks to Stephen Curry, Golden State is supposed to be one of the teams better equipped to expose Joker defensively. But it’s always been easier said than done to consistently exploit Jokić on that end of the floor, especially when everyone else is so well connected.

Denver may not be the hottest team in the league. It didn’t have a splashy summer filled with exciting acquisitions, and its success is not new like some of the other top teams in the NBA this year. But when games get tight, the Nuggets still have a better answer than anyone else when they need to close.