Nuggets-76ers Grades: Will Barton carries Denver in first half but falters in second

Another crushing defeat, this time at the hands of Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night 123-104 dropped the Denver Nuggets to 1 1/2 games out of the playoff race. The 76ers shot 50.5 percent from the field and 13-29 (44.8 percent) from three in the victory.

Seven 76ers scored in double figures as the Nuggets’ defense again struggled to get stops in a second half where Philadelphia outscored Denver 72-45. Here’s how every Nuggets played fared in the loss to the 76ers.

*Our game grades are dictated by our Dynamic Player Rating (DPR), which take into account 12 different statistical factors.

Jamal Murray (C-) 54.60 — 

Like many on Denver’s roster, Murray looked great in the first half and tailed off as the game went on. He shot 5-8 from the field for 11 first-half points but converted just two of his 10 field goal attempts over the third and fourth quarters.

Will Barton (C+) 62.82 — Barton carried Denver’s offense in the first half. He scored the Nuggets’ first nine points and had 20 at the halftime break. Just five points in the second half for Barton, however.

Wilson Chandler (C-) 52.15 — Chandler was quiet in Philadelphia scoring eight points on 3-8 shooting. Chandler did help hold Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons to seven points on 3-8 shooting. Simmons still had 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

Paul Millsap (D+) 47.15 — Denver’s starting power forward was crucial in the third quarter when he scored seven of his 16 points on the night. But Millsap, like the rest of the Nuggets’ roster struggled from the free-throw line. He went just 6-11 from the stripe and was 3-6 from the line in the third.

Nikola Jokic (C-) 54.75 — Jokic had an off night on the offensive end and shot just 4-14 from the field for 14 points. It was reminiscent of his 5-15 shooting night in Memphis to start the seven-game trip. Jokic played admirable defense on Embiid. He also finished with seven rebounds and four assists.

Devin Harris (D) 43.46 — Harris played well in spots — as he’s done on this entire road trip — but his night was upended by an ankle injury in the second quarter. He never looked 100 percent after coming down awkwardly and finished with five points and three assists in 21 minutes.

Torrey Craig (D-) 37.84 — Craig was a team-worst minus-15 in 17 minutes, which contributed to his low DPR. He couldn’t make much of an impact off Denver’s bench and finished with two points on 1-3 shooting.

Mason Plumlee (C-) 52.01 — Plumlee only logged 13 minutes against the 76ers, thanks to foul trouble. He picked up three personal fouls in six first-half minutes. Plumlee’s three blocks were a highlight from a quiet bench unit in Philadelphia.

Trey Lyles (D-) 36.86 — Lyles was a minus-nine in 12 minutes. He chipped in four points on 2-4 shooting. Denver needs more scoring from everyone on its bench unit, including Lyles.