Nuggets-Mavericks Grades: Nikola Jokic saves Denver…again

In a game where the Denver Nuggets weren’t quite clicking, they still found a way to win with a big fourth quarter, grinding out a 100-99 victory against the Dallas Mavericks.

We grade every performance from the Nuggets with our Dynamic Player Rating (DPR), which takes into account 12 different statistical factors.

Note: for DPRs that are lacking context, our beat reporters are offering their scout’s grade.

Nikola Jokic (B-) 67.85 — Jokic had as odd of a night as he’s had all season, not scoring a single basket in the first three quarters and then elevating his game in the final frame with 11 points including the game-winning bucket. Make no mistake, that lack of scoring hurt his grade, as did a -12 plus-minus. However, his Offensive and Defensive Ratings were strong and his 14 rebounds and eight assists to only two turnovers helped elevate his grade quite a bit. Had his shooting percentages been better than the 44 eFG% he produced, this could’ve easily been an A-level game.

Jamal Murray (C+) 63.84 — Murray was more of a distributor in this one, dishing out seven assists with zero turnovers on a night where he scored 12 points on a poor 38 eFG%. His 114 DRtg hurt his grade in fairly quiet 38 minutes.

Paul Millsap (A-) 82.78 — Millsap was huge for Denver in his fifth-best game of the year, per DPR. The Nuggets needed every single one of his 33 points which he tallied on a masterful 76 eFG%. Millsap also had his third-highest USG% of the season (27.6). He also added eight rebounds and three assists to his big scoring outing. Had his 110 DRtg been closer to his impressive season average of 105, his grade could’ve easily been his highest of the season.

Will Barton (C-) 52.80 — Barton was a team-worst minus-17 on the night. That said, his DRtg of 107 wasn’t terrible and though his conventional shooting percentages weren’t great he did muster a 50 percent eFG%, an acceptable mark. Scoring just 11 points, adding two rebounds and an assist, Barton’s passing grade is in large part due to his steal, two blocks, and lack of turnovers.

Gary Harris (D+) 49.15 — Harris, like Barton, had a limited impact on a -11 night where he only scored nine points and didn’t add much else statistically. His 57 TS% was his most notable statistic in a game where he also posted a poor 86 ORtg and 114 DRtg. While Harris did dish out two assists he also had three turnovers, which hurt his grade even more in a rough 27 minutes.

Malik Beasley (C) 56.52 — Beasly was a catalyst in getting Denver back in the game in the fourth quarter. Outside of that, his production was limited to 12 points in 21 minutes, although he was a plus-12. His shooting percentages weren’t terrific. His offensive rating (86) and defensive rating (118) weren’t impressive either.

Monte Morris (C) 55.29 — Morris’ 31 minutes were the most he’s played since early February in Detroit, resulting in a plus-16 night where he dished out four assists, snatched up two steals, and scored seven points on 50 eFG%. In an atypical outing, he did have two turnovers and some pretty poor offensive and defensive ratings, but still managed to have a positive impact.

Scout’s Grade (A) — Morris was fantastic off the bench for Denver. He was one of the Nuggets’ better defenders against Dallas. He’s been underrated on that end of the floor all season. He ran the offense well too.

Mason Plumlee (C-) 52.87 — Plumlee’s low 78 ORtg wasn’t pretty, like most of the Nuggets’ bench, but he did manage a 103 DRtg and was a plus-7. His 11 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks were also crucial, although he was involved in the miscommunication with Harris on the perimeter late in Thursday’s fourth quarter that led to what could have been a Luka Doncic game-winning dunk. He served his purpose in 24 minutes but wasn’t a standout in a below average performance. His DPR season-averages sits at 58.44.