Nuggets-Thunder Grades: High-water mark

Injuries and a back-to-back road game didn’t hinder the Denver Nuggets from playing arguably their best game of the season, win a big-time 105-98 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here’s how every Nuggets player fared.

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

Nikola Jokic (C+) 61.64 — Jokic scored a relatively quiet 16 points with “only” six boards and five assists as he dealt with foul trouble and tallied four turnovers as well. However, it felt like all of his assists led to easy shots around the hoop and his usage rating of 38.7 was the second highest it’s been all season.

The Joker had an efficient DRtg too which helped his game despite a low ORtg and TS%. His +15 plus-minus made a big difference in raising his grade as well.

Jamal Murray (B) 70.05 — Murray had a big 22-point night, leading all Denver scorers. His conventional shooting percentages don’t look great but his TS% of 46-percent was just fine. The Nuggets mercurial guard added eight boards and as many assists, making a big three and insane reverse layup in the fourth quarter to boot.

Paul Millsap (C) 57.97 — Millsap’s conventional stats in 28 minutes are nothing to write home about but he was strong defensively with a DRtg under 100. His 57-percent eFG% made a big difference in his final grade as well, thanks to some timely shooting from beyond the arc (2-of-3). Having to battle OKC’s talented bigs he had an underrated performance.

Juancho Hernangomez (B-) 65.41 — Juancho had a tough assignment with the Thunder’s athletic forwards and wings but held his own with eight boards, two steals, and a block while adding 15 points. In 35 minutes he had a single turnover and shot above 50-percent per his TS%.

More impressive than any of that, Hernangomez had a 94 DRtg, a huge part of his contribution in a big win.

Torrey Craig (C) 56.98 — Considering the circumstances, Craig’s grade is probably too low as he was huge on the boards pulling down 10 rebounds and made his presence felt despite a -2 and only eight points in a season-high 36 minutes. Outside of his 50-percent eFG%, nothing about Craig’s performance stood out statistically aside from his rebounding numbers, but his contribution to the Nugs big win was undeniable.

Monte Morris (C) 56.46 — In 20 minutes Morris only hit one shot—a tough layup over Steven Adams—but did a nice job as a true floor general with six assists and zero turnovers leading him to a +7 night. His DRtg of 96 was among his lowest of the season, which was especially impressive when facing two tough PGs in Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder.

Mason Plumlee (C) 59.58 — After a huge double-double against the Orlando Magic, Plumlee wasn’t quite as impactful in what was still a nice performance with four blocks, seven boards, and 11 points. Given the Thunder’s long frontcourt, Plumlee’s impact was crucial as he too posted a DRtg under 100 in his highest usage rating of the season.

Trey Lyles (B) 72.30 — Lyles had his best game of the season per DPR, besting his 22-point outing against the Magic in the first game of the back-to-back stretch. That’ll happen when you’re perfect from the field, scoring an uber-efficient 16 points in 20 minutes with a ridiculous 116-percent eFG%.

His shot was falling and he was confident attacking closeouts too. His ORtg of 187 was a season high and his 104 DRtg was impressive as well in a big-time game.

Malik Beasley (C-) 52.29 — With only five points in 12 minutes, Beasly’s game wasn’t anything special, though both the buckets he scored—a three and a dunk—were momentum baskets that helped the Nuggets maintain their big lead. His +8 plus-minus made a big difference in his grade.