DNVR Player Grades: Jerami Grant is starting to find his groove

Michael Malone recently spent time watching game film from the 2018-19 season….of the Thunder.

But it wasn’t in preparation for an upcoming matchup against Oklahoma City. Denver’s coach was in search of more creative ways to feature Jerami Grant on the offensive end of the floor.

Grant wasn’t being used to his full potential through the Nuggets’ first several games of the season, Malone thought. On the season he’s attempted 156 3s to 198 two-point shots, and the Nuggets want to use Grant as more than just a 3-point shooter. His skill-set is too versatile and he’s too much of a mismatch problem to be camped out 20-plus feet from the hoop when he’s on the floor.

So Malone thought that by looking at how Grant was used when with Oklahoma City last season — where the forward started at power forward, played nearly 33 minutes per game and averaged 13.6 points on 49.7% shooting from the field and 39.2% from 3 which are much more efficient numbers than he’s posted in Denver so far — he could help unlock his offense.

Grant responded with his best game in a Nuggets uniform scoring a season-high 20 points to go with four rebounds and two steals. He attempted four 3s, hitting one, and nine two’s, which was much closer to what his shot profile looked like with the Thunder last year.

The Nuggets beat the Wizards 117-104 behind Grant and strong play from their bench. Denver gradually built up a double-digit lead over the first half after a tight first 12 minutes and pushed their advantage to 17 points after the second quarter. The Nuggets pushed their lead to 20 points midway through the third and cruised to their 13th win of the season.

The Nuggets’ 13-3 start is tied for their best start in franchise history through 16 games (1984-85).

Let’s check out to report card.

Honor Roll

Jerami Grant – A

The Nuggets’ second unit had one of their better nights of the year which helped Grant’s out a lot, but Denver’s backup four-man also got to run with the starting group for a substantial amount of minutes Tuesday. He looked like a natural fit next to Nikola Jokic, finishing a gorgeous dump off from Denver’s big man, and his skill-set and high basketball IQ means that he can effectively play alongside any lineup.

An important wrinkle to Grant’s game — particularly when playing next to the Nuggets’ starters — is he has experience as the fourth or fifth option, which is a role he has to play when on the court with Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, and Will Barton. Watch for more of Grant and Denver’s first five moving forward.

Will Barton – A

Barton was everywhere for the Nuggets against the Wizards. He scored the ball efficiently as he’s done all season (17 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field, 2 of 5 from 3), he rebounded well (eight rebounds), and made plays for others (eight assists). Barton was the Nuggets’ workhorse Tuesday, logging 37 minutes, some of which were spent with the bench unit in the fourth quarter. No other Nuggets starter played more than 28 minutes.

Gary Harris – A-

Harris offense was pedestrian again versus Washington like its been for much of this season (11 points on 4 of 16 shooting, 1 of 6 from 3), but Denver’s two-guard locked up another opposing team’s No. 1 option in Bradley Beal. Beal finished with just 14 points on 6 of 15 shooting.

Add Beal to a long list of high-scoring wings which already includes Luka Doncic, James Harden, Devin Booker, and Buddy Hield that Harris has helped lock down this season.

The Class

Mason Plumlee – B+

Plumlee would have finished on the Honor Roll but his five turnovers knocked his grade slightly. He was effective though, finishing with 15 points on a clean 7 of 8 shooting to go with seven rebounds and three assists, but the turnovers were a team-wide problem, one of the few identifiable areas of concern from this Nuggets’ win, and Plumlee was a main culprit.

Jamal Murray – B+

Murray also was loose with the ball, turning it over five times in the win, but scored efficiently finishing with 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting. It was fun watching Murray and former Nuggets’ point guard Isaiah Thomas, who had a night to forget in his return to Denver registering just three points on 1 of 8 shooting and three turnovers, go at one another. Murray clearly won that battle. There was plenty of trash talk on Pepsi Center’s main floor between the two, which is probably similar to what transpired on the Nuggets’ practice court last season.

Monte Morris – B

Morris was solid against the Wizards, posting a productive 10-point, 5-assist line in the win. He connected with Plumlee for a few buckets out of a couple well-timed pick-and-rolls, and the captain of Denver’s second unit seems to be pretty much out of his early season slump.

Nikola Jokic – B

Jokic finished with eight points on 4 of 8 shooting (his second-straight eight-point game), 20(!) rebounds, and five assists. When he wanted to he absolutely mauled the Wizards’ bigs on the block, but Jokic was definitely in pass-first mode in this one. It didn’t tie down Denver’s offense at all. The Nuggets still scored well and Jokic picked apart Washington’s defense all night.

Malik Beasley – B

It certainly seems like Beasley is back in the Nuggets’ rotation, and the threat he gives Denver from the 3-point line is much-needed on the bench unit. He hit one triple against the Wizards and finished with nine points, four rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes. Welcome back, Malik.