Nuggets-Thunder Grades: Staying alive

The Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-125 Friday night to end their season-long seven-game road trip on a high note. Paul Millsap scored a season-high 36 points and Nikola Jokic chipped in 23 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.

Here’s how every Nuggets player fared in the loss.

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

Jamal Murray (C) 55.83 — Nuggets coach Michael Malone shed a bit of light on why Murray might have struggled on Denver’s seven-game road trip. The second-year point guard is “trying to do too much,” according to his coach in an effort to make for Gary Harris, who has missed the Nuggets’ past seven games. Murray couldn’t find his range against the Thunder either, shooting just 5-12 for 15 points. He did hit a clutch runner late in regulation to keep Denver close.

Will Barton (C+) 60.38 —

Through three quarters, Barton stayed quiet and scored 10 points to go with six rebounds. But when the lights came on in the fourth and overtime, Barton shined. His twisting layup with nine seconds remaining sent the game to overtime and Barton also nailed two free-throws to put the Nuggets up by four with 3.6 seconds left in overtime to seal the win.

Wilson Chandler (Inc.) — Chandler exited the game in the third quarter with a nasal fracture and did not return. But in 23 minutes he kept Paul George, who lit Denver up the last time these two teams met to the tune of 43 points, in check. George finished with 13 points on 4-12 shooting. Chandler questionable for Sunday’s matchup against Milwaukee

Paul Millsap (B+) 79.87 — This was arguably Millsap’s best game since he returned from injury. Millsap finished with a game-high 36 points on an efficient 13-18 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds. He registered his second-highest DPR of the season and Millsap was crucial in the fourth quarter when he scored 11 of the Nuggets’ 22 points in the period.

Nikola Jokic (B) 72.47 — Jokic’s best stretch of the night came in the third quarter when he scored 11 points in 10 minutes and dominated Thunder center Steven Adams down low. Jokic is in a groove right now and with the Milwaukee Bucks on tap for Sunday, he should have another big outing. Jokic finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds and six assists against the Thunder.

Devin Harris (C) 59.10 — Harris logged 34 minutes off Denver’s bench — partly because of Chandler’s early exit — but also because the Nuggets’ backup point guard has played well as of late. Harris finished with 12 points. two rebounds, two assists and two steals. He averaged nine points on 44 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent from three across 15 games in March.

Trey Lyles (D+) 49.85 — Lyles played winning basketball for Denver over its road trip and was solid in OKC. He finished with six points on 3-5 shooting and three assists in 11 minutes against the Thunder. Lyles struggled with his three-point shot in February and only converted on 25.0 percent of his long-range bombs. He hit on 33.3 percent of his threes in March, though.

Torrey Craig (D+) 45.08 — Because of his defense, don’t be surprised if Craig steps into the starting lineup if Chandler can’t go on Sunday. Craig played 16 minutes against the Thunder and fared well on the road trip overall. He’s free to practice and play with the Nuggets now since the G League regular season has concluded but under his two-way contract, Craig is still not eligible for Denver’s playoff roster if they qualify. Craig finished with five points and five rebounds Friday night.

Mason Plumlee (C+) 57.69 — Disregard Plumlee’s grade and his final line which read nine points and six rebounds in 14 minutes. He gets an A+ for his season-saving block in overtime. Also, hats off to Malone who inserted Plumlee on that critical jump ball between Murray and George.