Nuggets-Clippers Grades: Harris predictably bounces back after rough outing

The Denver Nuggets blew a 19-point lead and lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 122-120 on Tuesday. The loss dropped Denver to ninth in the Western Conference.

Here’s how each Nuggets player performed.

Will Barton (B+) — Barton came out of the gates scorching. He hit the first five shots he took. He had 19 points by halftime. In the second half, he failed to score. He played a team-high 40 minutes, grabbed seven rebounds and was credited with five assists. He was despondent after the game, a reminder that perhaps no player on Denver’s roster takes losses harder than Barton.

Gary Harris (A-) — Harris followed up his 2-12 performance against the Houston Rockets by scoring a team-high 23 points against the Clippers. He made 7-13 shots, including 4-6 threes. Harris is the most consistent player on the Nuggets’ roster. It was no surprise he bounced back from his rough outing against the Rockets.

Wilson Chandler (A-) — Chandler continues to look like a different player since the NBA trade deadline came and went. His final line against Los Angeles — 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists — was excellent. He’s looked so much more aggressive in the last seven games.

Jamal Murray (B) — Murray was efficient, scoring 18 points on seven shots. He gave excellent effort, too. But Murray did commit a turnover on the final play of the game, which poured water on any hope the Nuggets had of extending the game. Murray committed five turnovers. As a team, the Nuggets committed 20.

Nikola Jokic (B-) — Weird game for Jokic. He picked up two early fouls, which prevented him from getting into any sort of rhythm early on. He didn’t attempt a shot in the first half. He still scored 18 points on just five shot attempts, but if felt like he could’ve done more. He also got worked by his Serbian counterpart Boban Marjanovic down the stretch.

Paul Millsap (B+) — Millsap pieced together an encouraging outing for a guy who missed the last 44 games. Millsap was active for the first time since he injured his wrist Nov. 19. He scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 23 minutes. His was excellent on defense. His defensive presence was sorely missed.

Mason Plumlee (B) — Plumlee played 22 minutes, and he nearly recorded a double-double — 10 points and nine rebounds. Like Jokic, he also had trouble slowing Marjanovic in the second half.

Devin Harris (B-) — Harris had two baskets at the rim, but he missed all three of the threes he took. The veteran backup point guard has struggled with his outside shot since Denver traded him. He’s shooting 22.7 percent on threes in six games in a Nuggets uniform.

Trey Lyles (Inc.) — Lyles earns an incomplete because he only logged five minutes. Playing time could be hard for him to come by with Millsap back in the lineup. That’s a shame because he was excellent in Millsap’s absence.