Nuggets-Spurs Grades: Monte Morris' struggles continue

After falling behind 36-17 in the first quarter, the Denver Nuggets crawled all the way back Monday in San Antonio but still came up short, falling 104-103 to the Spurs.

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+) 75.73 — When you score 20 points and make all your three-point attempts for a 78 eFG%, your grade is bound to be good. On top of that, Jokic added 10 rebounds, with four coming on the offensive glass, and dished out six assists to only three turnovers. His 19.5 USG% wasn’t very high but he made it work on a night where he led Denver with a plus-10. What hurt him was a DRtg of 111 which is higher than his season average of 105.

Jamal Murray (B+) 76.08 — Murray got hot in the fourth quarter and was the catalyst for the Nuggets storming back into the game late in the fourth quarter. His 25 points on 60percent shooting from beyond the arc were crucial, and he also added eight dimes and recorded a 61 percent TS%. Murray did it all with his second-highest USG% of the season (37.9). The only game in which he had a higher USG% was against the Boston Celtics when he scored 48 points. Like Jokic, Murray didn’t make two buckets he typically would in the final seconds that could’ve helped his score and brought home the win.

Paul Millsap (C-) 52.24 — Millsap looked a little sluggish to start the game as LaMarcus Aldridge was cooking. He got it together just in time for a respectable 104 DRtg. What really hurt Millsap’s grade was a lack of offensive production in 30 minutes, as he scored five points for an abysmal 77 ORtg. Millsap did pull down 11 rebounds, all on the defensive glass, added a steal and two assists. Not enough to salvage his grade, however.

Will Barton (C) 58.84 — Barton’s biggest accomplishment against the Spurs was how he scored 12 points on a 60 eFG%. He added six rebounds and a block for a plus-4 in 32 minutes. He was certainly deserving of a passing grade but didn’t do much beyond that.

Gary Harris (C-) 53.35 — Harris missed the potential game-winner as the clock was winding down on a tough look from three and he also didn’t have a great DRtg, posting a 113 and had a below average ORtg (93). Harris also recorded a sub-50 percent eFG% on the night. In a game where he scored eight points, added just two boards and an assist in 26 minutes, his grade almost seems too high. But his plus-9 night is what saved him on top of staying turnover-free.

Malik Beasley (C+) 62.61 — Despite a -11 outing, Beasly was the Nuggets’ one shining star off their bench, contributing 15 points on 63 eFG%. He also did it on a 22 USG%. Beasley finished the night with a 136 ORtg and a 107 DRtg, both solid figures in the context of Monday’s loss. He was also able to add three rebounds, a steal, and three assists. In 22 minutes he was at least reliable, which you couldn’t say about anyone else coming off Denver’s bench.

Monte Morris (D) 43.97 — Morris’ DPR has dropped from an average of 59.77 before Isaiah Thomas entered the lineup to a 51.87 over his last seven games. Over Morris’ last four outings, he’s only registered a 45.62 DPR. His outing against the Spurs saw him falter again, as all he could muster was four points on 25 percent from the field for a negative GmSc, something he’s done twice in the past three games and had only done three other times before Thomas was thrust into the rotation.

Mason Plumlee (D-) 37.85 — On a -18 night, Plumlee couldn’t get anything going as all he had to show in 14 minutes were four rebounds, a block, and three assists. He managed to avoid an F grade with some decent offensive and defensive ratings — 103 and 106 respectively — but had little else going for him on the evening.

Isaiah Thomas (C-) 54.25 — Thomas’ performance might have looked worse than it actually was, as he scored seven points in 16 minutes and finished a -5 on the night. He added two rebounds, a steal, and two assists. A very high 33.6 USG% helped him as did a 106 DRtg, though his GmSC and 73 ORtg hurt quite a bit.

Torrey Craig (C) 55.51 — Craig had the only positive plus-minus off the bench (a plus-6 in 13 minutes) while chipping in five points. The efficiency with which those points were scored resulted in a 62 eFG%, which helped him as did a strong 128 ORtg.