Nuggets-Grizzlies Grades: Barton thrives as a super sub

The Denver Nuggets edged the Memphis Grizzlies Friday 108-102. Paul Millsap returned to the Nuggets’ starting lineup which meant Will Barton went back to Denver’s bench. The Nuggets turned the ball over 22 times but still came out with the victory.

Here’s how every Nuggets player faired in the win over the Grizzlies.

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

Will Barton 69.70 (B) — Barton led all Nuggets with his rating. He was second in scoring on the team with 24 points and added a nice 19.4 game score, and had a positive plus/minus coming off the bench.

Being out of the starting lineup didn’t seem to matter to Barton as he was supremely effective with a 78-percent eFG% (effective field goal percentage), missing only three triples and once within the arc.

Gary Harris 68.91 (B) — As the Nuggets were desperate for a bucket down the stretch Harris came through with the game-winning jumper, which doesn’t affect his DPR but is worth mentioning. Harris has picked it up the last two games going over 20 points in both and having a DPR over 65.

His +10 plus/minus was impressive, as was his high 30.2 usage percentage. A really solid game from Gary who was the best starter of the day.

Wilson Chandler 37.73 (D-) — Chandler’s game score was a dismal 1.6, his usage rating was an 8.5, and his offensive rating was down to the floor at only 74. He was woefully inefficient with a 25-percent eFG% as well. Conventional stats or advanced, Chandler was simply disappointing across the board with his worst DPR since early February.

Jamal Murray 52.00 (C) — Murray’s gone through a rough stretch the last four games averaging only 55.38 per DPR, and this was his worst outing of the four.

He gets dinged for fouling out and for some inefficient shooting—getting only 38-percent eFG%. His offensive rating of 91 was his lowest since February 2nd against the Houston Rockets. His score was saved by his +8 plus/minus but didn’t have much more to hang his hat on.

Nikola Jokic 52.55 (C) — Jokic had his worst DPR since January 6th against the Sacramento Kings. When you look at the stats that’s unsurprising as his eFG % was only 40-percent, his offensive rating was a 90, and his game score was only 6.1. He also didn’t help himself with five fouls.

He did have nine boards and nine points, and a positive plus/minus. Surprisingly his defensive rating of 104 was his best in over a month, somewhat salvaging his rating.

Paul Millsap 64.29 (B-) — Millsap is back! and he did it on the defensive end with his third best defensive rating of the season at 93, which significantly upped his score. His 55-percent eFG% upped his DPR as well and his usage percentage of 22 was nice to see, as the Nugs were able to lean on him on offense a bit more.

Defending Marc Gasol, he actually outscored the big Spaniard per DPR (Gasol had a 64.02), a positive sign for Millsap who had his best rating per our metric since going off for 75.78 back in November before getting injured.

Mason Plumlee 61.93 (B-) — Plumlee was super efficient and it showed in his offensive rating that made up a large portion of his final DPR, putting up a 163. The other stat that really stood out from Plumlee’s game was his perfect 100-percent eFG%. He also added four assists and five rebounds, which really helped him have the best performance off the bench after Barton.

Devin Harris 51.67 (C) — Harris had his second best game as a Nugget per DPR since being traded at the deadline. His low turnovers and efficient shooting made up the majority of his score.

Trey Lyles 45.15 (D+) — Lyles’ DPR has dropped off in the last two games since Millsap’s returned to the lineup. His impact shooting from deep was lacking without a three in the game, and he had three turnovers that hurt his score significantly. His -2 plus/minus didn’t help his cause either.