Grades: Suns Run Shorthanded Nuggets Out Of Phoenix

Aaron Gordon – B+

Gordon refused to punt an almost certain loss in Phoenix. He played hard and big, using his strength to dominate the glass and do damage at the rim. His night was cut short after a quick ejection from official Natalie Sago, though. He left the court fired up.

Gordon was good, but not great. He matched his four assists with four turnovers, and the best defender on a team can’t claim a massive impact when the team allowed 48 points in the first quarter. Still, he’s one of the few standouts from Sunday night’s drubbing.

The Nuggets did also discover a neat wrinkle to their defensive game plan. Denver put Gordon on Chris Paul, blunting the impact of picks and potential switches. Phoenix eventually countered by placing the ball in Devin Booker’s hands. It might be the first counter Michael Malone’s forced from Monty Williams since the start of that playoff series.

Will Barton – D+

Barton stood out, too, though not in the way one might hope. He couldn’t buy a bucket, his handle looked loose, his defense was lacking, and he never got his teammates going as a playmaker. The Nuggets didn’t stand a chance in Phoenix without great games from Gordon and Barton. They got a good one from the former and a terrible one from the latter.

Barton also nearly hurt himself in the fourth quarter. He landed in an awkward position, an extended split, and grabbed at his groin briefly before insisting to the staff that he remain in the game. He did stay in for a time before the end of the bench took over.

JaMychal Green – B+

Green played his best game of the season, clearing a very low bar. He started alongside Jeff Green and scored 14 points on eight shots. He was aggressive on the glass, too, corralling eight total boards, including three on the offensive end. Most surprisingly, Green recorded four assists to zero turnovers. To be clear, that means he avoided the seemingly obligatory illegal screen per game. Green spoke with the media following the loss and explained everyone held their heads high after a “good talk” in the locker room. Panic is seeping into the fan base, but the players always have shorter memories.

Jeff Green – B

Jeff still can’t knock down an open three, but he played aggressively on Sunday night. He drove to the rim with conviction, earned eight free throw attempts, and mixed in some turnaround jumpers — arguably his favorite shot. After the game, Jeff also spoke with the media. When asked about his role as a vocal leader given his veteran status, Green said he knows when to speak up and what needs to be said, but the Nuggets haven’t yet reached that point. There’s a job to be done, and everyone in the locker room is clear on what that job is.

Monte Morris – C

After signs of life last week, Morris is back on the struggle bus. He’s not playing terribly, but he’s capable of more even in an elevated role.

Facundo Campazzo – C-

Facu knocked down his first two attempts from deep, which briefly slotted him as the third-best shooter on the team statistically. But he missed his next five.

Austin Rivers – C+

Rivers is quietly stepping up his play. It’s not amounting to a winning impact in the face of so many injuries. Still, he’s looking more confident on offense and remains a capable defender, even if the extent of those capabilities is occasionally overstated.

PJ Dozier – D+

Dozier is not an asset to the second unit’s offense. He might prove to be one with the starters or in some lineup combination that includes Jokić, but he’s yet to show he can provide any scoring punch off off the bench. He’s still a high-level defender that plays hard and understands the importance of rebounding, but that skill set rarely pops in its current ecosystem.

Bones Hyland – Injured

Hyland sprained his right ankle in the loss. It’s a different ankle injury than the left ankle sprain he suffered against Dallas.