DNVR Player Grades: "First Team"

At 20-8 the Denver Nuggets are off to their best start…ever.

That’s right. Nikola Jokic suffered through the worst offensive slump of his career, the Nuggets’ offense still hasn’t clicked (they currently rank 13th in offense), and Denver’s bench has struggled to string together solid offensive and defensive quarters, let alone games. Yet, the Nuggets — in their 50-plus season history — have never started off a season better.

Sunday night in Los Angeles the Nuggets won convincingly, beating the Lakers who were without LeBron James 128-104. The Nuggets held the fifth-best offense in the league to under 50% shooting from the field and just 34.5% from 3, and tallied their third-highest point total of the season on a night when neither Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray scored more than 20. It was a classic Nuggets’ team win.

After the Lakers opened up a five-point advantage following the first quarter, Denver roared back in the second and took a two-point lead at the half. Behind Paul Millsap, the Nuggets pieced together a pivotal 12-0 run in the third that blew the game open. Denver cruised in the fourth for their 20th victory of the season.

Let’s go to the grades.

Honor Roll

Gary Harris – A

If you’re putting together an All-Defense First Team after the regular season’s first trimester Harris has to be on it. Denver is the second-best defense in the league and Harris draws the opposition’s best perimeter scorer every night. The Lakers don’t have a guard who scares you too much as a defender but still, Harris had a huge impact on that end of the floor both as an individual and team defender. He tallied four steals in the win, and oh yeah, Harris was great on offense too. He finished with 19 points on 7 of 10 shooting, got to the rim well, and registered five assists. That was enough to earn him tonight’s game ball.

Malik Beasley – A

Call Beasley Denver’s human energizer bunny because when he’s checked in as of late the complexion of the game changes. Gregg Popovich may think plus-minus is an “analytical fantasy” but the impact he’s had as of late is reflective in those numbers.

11 minutes vs. Orlando (+13)

14 minutes vs. Minnesota (+12)

22 minutes vs. Lakers (+16)

Few players in the league have a quicker trigger than contract year Malik Beasley, and on nights like tonight (and in these last few games) it’s hard to imagine Denver’s bench unit going on these runs without him. That could be the reality that the Nuggets’ second unit faces after February’s trade deadline. Beasley finished with 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting in 22 minutes.

Paul Millsap – A-

Millsap was questionable to play coming into this matchup but helped key a 12-0 run in the third which got the Nuggets the separation from the Lakers that they needed. Millsap couldn’t slow Anthony Davis (32 points on 13 of 23 shooting) but few can. He also went 3 of 4 from three-point land which increased his three-point percentage to 48.4% on 2.4 triples per game.

Will Barton – A-

Barton continues to check multiple boxes for the Nuggets. He scored 14 points against the Lakers, dished out five assists, and also recorded a season-high 13 rebounds. On the season, Barton is averaging 6.8 rebounds a game, one full rebound more than his previous career-high set back in 2015-16. He also got to the line six times and as a team, the Nuggets shot 30 free-throws and make 29. Barton was only 4 of 12 from the field, which knocked his grade slightly.

The Class

Nikola Jokic -B+

Jokic finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 27 minutes. He also hit a 3, extending his consecutive game streak with a made three-pointer nine. Jokic’s long-range percentage is climbing slowly but surely.

Monte Morris – B+

Morris is the engine of the Nuggets’ bench and had Denver’s second unit running in sixth gear tonight. He finished with nine points, five rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes, the most Morris has logged in five games.

Mason Plumlee- B-

Plumlee had some rough moments, like his two turnovers, but overall helped the Nuggets’ bench find its footing. He finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists and hooked up with Morris on a couple well-timed pick-and-rolls. When that action is working, Denver’s second unit looks like last year’s version.

Jamal Murray – B-

Murray cooled off after totaling 61 points combined in the Nuggets’ last two games and scored just six on 3 of 11 shooting against the Lakers but impacted the game in other areas. He chipped in three rebounds and five assists and had a couple crafty dimes and helpers that went Jokic’s direction.

*Special shoutout to Nuggets rookie Vlatko Cancar who scored his first NBA points on two free-throws in the fourth quarter.