Grades: Nuggets suffer deflating loss to Wizards

The Denver Nuggets led the Washington Wizards by 20 before the first quarter ended. By the time they took the locker room for halftime, they had trailed by six. Without that stretch, we might not spend any time on the game’s final minutes when a lack of execution cost Denver the game for good. Two late fouls by JaMychal Green handed the Wizards their ninth win of the season and wasted a miraculous comeback effort by Jamal Murray.

Nikola Jokić was a monster early, Murray clutched up, and Porter turned in an improved defensive effort. But it wasn’t enough as Davis Bertans led Washington to a 130-128 win with 35 points off nine three-pointers.

To the grades:

Nikola Jokić – A

Jokić picked up right where he left off the night before in Boston. He scored 15 points. on 6/6 fro the field in the first quarter for the second time in as many days, and looked as though he propelled Denver to an early, insurmountable lead. His dominance receded into normal greatness after his first stint. Robin Lobez and Alex Len did a much better job guarding him, and Washington began to swarm him. All told, he finished with 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists on 12/21 shooting.

Jamal Murray – A

If you’re looking for a positive takeaway from a brutal loss, start with Murray’s fourth quarter. He dropped 19 points in the final frame, including some ridiculous clutch shooting from deep to close the game. He tied it with an absolute bomb just inside the center court logo — a fixture in his pregame — and exploded with emotion. We haven’t seen him look that way — so dominant, so fired up — since the playoffs. And boy, was it a sight for sore eyes. I gather most Nuggets fans still think he can turn it on when it counts. It was important for us to see it one more time, though, nonetheless. Evidence, right in front of our eyes that he can still be this guy in winning time. Murray finished with 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 13/25 from the field.

Gary Harris – C+

Harris played well defensively but looked predictably rusty on offense. He finished 1/5 from the field and looked far from the guy who was slowly turning himself back into a Jokić-ball piece before the injury. Beal finished with 25 points, but he was just 8/20 from the field. Harris did a decent job, which is why it was noteworthy to see him on the bench for the game’s final possession with the Nuggets on defense.

Michael Porter Jr. – B-

Porter played well before the wheels fell off late. He took two shots in the second half that evoked a head scratch at the least, or in Scott Hasting’s case, an audible groan on the local broadcast. But don’t overlook his first half. Porter was as dialed in defensively as we’ve seen him, and his points came within the flow of the offense.

JaMychal Green – C

That was almost a solid bounce-back game from Green, but three big mistakes ultimately defined his night. Green committed five personal fouls, including a silly and-one conversion, a heart-wrenching foul of Bertans behind the line, and of course, the game-deciding foul on Beal with less than a second left.

Facundo Campazzo – B-

Campazzo looks increasingly comfortable out there as he spends more time with the ball in his hands. He was an absolute menace in D.C. — flying around at nothing less than 100% effort. He finished with 14 points and two steals, but he was on the floor for that free fall in the second quarter. The Wizards were content to attack him, and when Denver sent help, the subsequent rotations were sloppy.

Monte Morris – C

Morris also looked rusty in his return. He finished 3/8 from the floor and never really factored in. Plus, only two assists to one turnover. A devastating night in his race for the coveted AST/TO crown.

Zeke Nanji – C-

Nnaji’s returning to Earth after his big game against the Lakers. He was just 1/4 from the floor in the loss, and only grabbed two rebounds. However, he’s unafraid from deep, and his one make came on a second chance opportunity when he followed his miss with no hesitation from the corner.

Isaiah Hartenstein – C+

Hartenstein looked decent from an individual standpoint in the first half. He converted on his opportunities and looked a formidable threat when rolling to the rim. Hartenstein did pick up three fouls in just 9:40 on the court, though, including one on Bertans behind the arc. He only grabbed one rebound too, which isn’t good enough.

R.J. Hampton – C

Hampton got the nod in the second half as Malone looked for some energy off the bench. Hampton didn’t make much of an impact, but he did convert on a catch-and-shoot three-pointer.

Game Notes: No Bol Bol again. That’s got to be the world’s biggest dog house.