DNVR Player Grades: the dunk that was not

For those in search of a recap of the Denver Nuggets’ 109-95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks’ JJV-team, there’s no better place to start than Jamal Murray’s banishment of D.J. Wilson late in the third quarter.

To set the scene, Milwaukee sat their best players and trotted out an active roster that included several google-jobs and two misleading inclusions in the starting five. Thanasis Antetokounmpo took the court alongside Robin Lopez as their brothers took the night off. And so Murray’s dunk served as both the best highlight from a narrative-less game and the catalyst behind a late-game push to avoid another embarrassing loss.

With time winding down in the third, Murray put the ball between his legs and left Pat Connaughton in the dust as he attacked the rim downhill. Murray gets up, and Wilson didn’t get that memo. He jumped late, and, well — see for yourself. Viewer discretion advised:

MURRAY CAUGHT A BODY. pic.twitter.com/ggG9Y3uOkn

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 10, 2020

Social media went nuts. And so, apparently, did the trailing official, who mistook Murray’s extended elbow as a violation of both Wilson’s space and face. An offensive foul was the call, and confusion permeated before anger consumed Pepsi Center.

The fans were irate. Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone was beside himself, and for some reason that still isn’t clear, opted not to challenge the blasphemous whistle. He told the media after the game that he had already used his challenge, which was not the case. He used the remaining challenge shortly after, but as it turns out, Murray’s dunk—or lack thereof—had the desired effect nonetheless.

The Nuggets are playing in a trance since the All-Star break, walking through the motions and coughing up leads to teams with no business beating them. They built a substantial lead on Monday night thanks in large part to the early offensive explosions of Paul Millsap and Jerami Grant — the latter picking up where the former left off after their first substitution of the game. But after dropping 62 points in the first half, the wheels went wobbly, and a familiar fog began to cloud the eyes of Denver’s favorite hoopers.

In a game with higher stakes, Nikola Jokić might emerge from his slumber, amble out of his cave, and save the day had he not already felt inclined to participate from the opening tip. But the depleted Bucks were not enough to wake the sleeping giant, and so it was up to young Murray.

The phantom dunk seemed to remind everyone in the building that this was, in fact, an NBA basketball game. The crowd roared to life, and the fog lifted from the Nuggets’ eyes as Murray’s own rolled back into his head. The fourth quarter began, and he unleashed one of those scoring runs that reminds you why the expectations are so high. He was alone on the court during the game’s pivotal stretch. The Nuggets steadied the ship and grabbed the gimme W off the silver platter.

To the grades:

Honor Roll

Jamal Murray – A-

Murray was robbed. The system failed us. I wanted to shoehorn some cultural reference to justice or truth for this grade and even rewatched half of A Few Good Men while I worked in hopes of finding something juicy. I came up empty, but that movie still whips.

I digress.

Murray was quiet to start the second half before sending Wilson to the shadow realm, then scored nine points in less than six minutes to open the fourth. Those minutes changed and ultimately decided the game.

Paul Millsap – A-

Don’t let anyone tell you Millsap has lost his touch. The Nuggets have a higher floor and ceiling with him in rhythm, and he found one early Monday night. He dropped 13 points in less than eight first-quarter minutes and recorded a particularly efficient double-double in just 20 minutes played. That version of the Bucks is no litmus-test for crucial players on great teams, but Millsap is tested and experienced. He plays winning basketball.

Jerami Grant – A-

Who should start — Grant or Millsap? That’s a question that might impact a playoff series, but both players were the answer against Milwaukee. Grant scored 19 points in 29 minutes — 11 coming in the first quarter — while grabbing six rebounds and dishing three assists.

The Class

Gary Harris – B+

If you didn’t watch the game, you probably have just one question regarding Mr. Harris:

Did he shoot well again?

5-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-4 from deep.

I don’t want to write it. I genuinely don’t want to jinx it. But you already know how important it would be.

Will Barton III – B

Barton III turned in a dreadful defensive effort against Cleveland but atoned by recording 4 steals and 2 blocks on Monday night. He didn’t give us much to write home about on the offensive end, although 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists reflect a winning effort.

Principal’s Office

Nikola Jokić – D+

I benefitted from my post-game conversation and Tuesday’s DNVR Nuggets podcast with Harrison Wind. He poised the question of a potential Jokić slump to set up an alternative perspective:

Jokić isn’t slumping. The proverbial switch is just off. Time will tell if that’s worthy of criticism.

He looked more interested in throwing full-court touchdown passes than playing hoops, which is somehow endearing when the Nuggets aren’t throwing games away.

Michael Porter Jr. – F

If Malone were collecting evidence to support a case for his rotation since the All-Star break, Porter’s 11 minutes from this win would suffice. He was scoreless on just two field-goal attempts and added one rebound to an otherwise empty stat line.