Nuggets-Spurs Game 4 Grades: Jokic and Craig reach new heights

In a do or die Game 4 on the road, the Nuggets got back to playing their brand of basketball in a 117-103 win that saw them dominate the second half in San Antonio.

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 (A) 85.42 — Jokic hit another level in this one, dominating the Spurs on the glass with 12 rebounds (five offensive) while making San Antonio pay down low on the block on his way to 29 points. His shooting percentage (47 eFG%) wasn’t great and his jumper wasn’t falling, but Jokic stayed aggressive, getting to the line at will and making all of his eight free-throw attempts. He also distributed eight assists with his highest USG% of the series (29.5%), on his way to a 141 ORtg and a plus-17 night. Jokic is now averaging a 76.73 DPR in the series, improving on his 73.17 regular season average.

Jamal Murray (B+) 75.84 — Murray’s return to form was crucial in getting the road win as he scored 24 points on a 67 eFG%, and after he made his first 3 Murray never looked back. The Blue Arrow picked his spots, making a couple of tough shots from deep and really doing damage in the pick-and-roll on his way to a 151 ORtg. He also added six assists in 33 minutes. Murray and Jokic’s two-man game was clicking throughout a series-best plus-15 performance from the Nuggets’ starting point guard.

Paul Millsap (D-) 38.74 — Millsap started off cold, missing his first five shots from the field and never quite found his rhythm. He scored two points on 14% shooting from the field in 27 minutes. Millsap did have a decent defensive outing with one block, one steal and four rebounds in a plus-8 night. While at face value his 111 DRtg is nothing special, it was among one of the better figures posted by a Denver starter, a positive in a quiet outing for the veteran forward.

Gary Harris (C) 58.85 — Harris struggled from the field until he finally made a couple of shots from beyond the arc in the second half. But he found other ways to contribute, playing stout defense on Derrick White on his way to a plus-14 performance in 34 minutes. He added six rebounds, one steal, and two assists.

Scout’s Grade (A-) —Harris gets a bump for his defense on White, holding the Spurs’ point guard to eight points 48 hours after he dropped a career-high 36. Expect to see that matchup for the rest of the series. Harris, Denver’s best perimeter defender, will be counted on more for his defense than his offense from here on out.

Torrey Craig (B+) 76.81 — After a terrific Game 3, Craig had his second-best DPR of the entire season in Game 4 with 18 points as he made one clutch 3 after another and shot 71% from beyond the arc. This was a statement game for Craig, who was inserted into the starting lineup and had an immaculate performance. Defensively, he slowed down DeMar DeRozan and finished with a 105 DRtg in addition to two steals and one block. He also had a huge impact on the glass with eight rebounds. Craig has played some of his best basketball over the past two games, which has been huge for the Nuggets.

Scout’s Grade (A+) — What a time for Craig to piece together arguably his best game of the season. He played good enough defense for the Nuggets to win Game 4, but his five 3s is what catapulted Denver to what turned out to be a relatively easy victory. Craig will continue to start at small forward as long as he remains somewhat of a threat from beyond the arc.

Will Barton (B-) 65.66 — Will Barton was officially back in this one, coming off the bench and just simply looking more confident than he has as of late. His shot was falling, as he scored 12 points in 15 minutes, with four rebounds and two assists. Barton also had an extremely high 35 USG% as the sixth-man, justifying Michael Malone’s decision to play him off the bench.

Malik Beasley (C-) 52.20 — Don’t look now but Beasley’s game is starting to mature a bit even on a night where he wasn’t scorching hot as a shooter. Beasley still found other ways to impact the game in 25 minutes with four rebounds and two assists. He only scored seven points but the impact he and the rest of the bench had was crucial in Denver climbing back into the game to eventually blow San Antonio out.

Monte Morris (C) 59.03 — Morris was a reliable floor general even if he committed three fouls and turned the ball over three times with a negative Net Rating, but his impact in upping the pace of the game was big. He scored a quick 11 points in 16 minutes and ended the contest with a 62 eFG% in addition to a very high 32.5 USG%.

Mason Plumlee (C) 55.61 — Plumlee’s limited defensive impact in the series continued. He didn’t pull down a single rebound in 11 minutes and allowed too many easy shots around the rim. Plumlee also recorded a 118 DRtg. However, he stayed aggressive and got high-percentage shots at the rim on his way to six points and three assists.