Nuggets-Thunder Grades: The starting five saves the day

In a crucial matchup for the second seed in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder on their way to a 121-112 home win.

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 () 94.89 — Jokic earned his fifth-best grade of the season scoring an impressive 36 points and falling just a rebound short of a triple-double. Denver’s star center did so scoring and dishing at impressive rates shooting an efficient 52 percent per eFG% and accounting for a 37.2 USG%. His shooting stroke from downtown proved to be crucial as he made 4 of 7 attempts from beyond the arc giving Steven Adams all sorts of problems and playing in the flow of the offense. His plus-22 and 29.7 GmSc — his sixth best GmSc of the season — raised his grade significantly as well.

Jokic struggled a bit in the fourth quarter with Nerlens Noel guarding him, which limited his impact from the perimeter, if not for that hiccup who knows how high his grade could’ve climbed.

Jamal Murray (B) 71.19 — Murray got his shooting stroke back in his first game scoring 20 points or more since Feb. 8. His marksmanship from the three-point line was crucial hitting open jumpers on his way to a plus-16 night. He added five boards and five more assists for a 136 ORtg.

Paul Millsap (B-) 64.65 — DPR doesn’t tell the whole story of Millsap’s game, as he was the catalyst for Denver regaining the lead once the Thunder tied them up in the fourth quarter. The veteran forward was getting to the line, pulling down clutch offensive boards, and playing stout defense. His 12 point and 10 board double-double was only part of the story in a huge tone-setting performance. Millsap did post an impressive 98 DRtg and shot 57 percent per eFG%, he added two steals and a block as well in 27 minutes.

Scout’s Grade (A) — Millsap’s defense alone in the fourth quarter gives him an ‘A’ grade. He was phenomenal, at the rim, and as a help defender.

Malik Beasley (C) 57.31 — Beasley had a quiet outing, scoring eight points and pulling down four boards in 25 minutes. He did add a steal and two assists while posting a suitable 106 DRtg and a plus-5 on the night. His two makes from 3-point land were important in a night where he was racked up four fouls.

Will Barton (B) 71.22 — All Barton needed to do to get back in his groove was playing in a massive game on national TV, as he scored 23 points — a season high. Barton’s impact was all over as he dished five assists and hauled in three boards for a plus-17. He also scored at an efficient clip with a 59 eFG%, earning his fourth highest grade of the entire season.

Scout’s Grade (A) — Barton played his best game of the season, in my opinion, against the Thunder. He was his pre-injury self on offense, but also defended Paul George well on the other end of the floor.

Gary Harris (D) 44.12 — As the starters imposed their will, the bench and Harris didn’t have their best game with Harris having the unique distinction of being the only non-starter with a positive plus-minus. What hurts his grade was a lacking shooting stroke, though he did get to the line and made 5 of 6 attempts. His 103 DRtg wasn’t bad either in 22 minutes, though this was far from a vintage Gary Harris performance on offense.

Monte Morris (D+) 49.23 — Morris’s impact was a bit lacking as well in 15 minutes. He only mustered up four points, four rebounds, a steal, and an assist in a -7 outing. His DRtg was pretty strong but his offensive output just wasn’t there.

Mason Plumlee (D) 43.39 — With Jokic and Millsap balling out, Plumlee didn’t really affect the game too much as he too struggled to score off the bench. He did pull down six boards while adding a steal and an assist in 21 minutes for a -4 night. His 102 DRtg was strong but it was his abysmal 61 ORtg that hurt him in a night where he shot 33 percent from the field.

Isaiah Thomas (C) 58.32 — Thomas was the only Nugget to receive a passing grade coming off the bench despite a -8 outing. His 11 points in 15 minutes while making two 3s were just what the doctor ordered in a night where he shot an impressive 80 percent per eFG%. His offensive and defensive ratings of 96 and 112 respectively hurt him, as did his three turnovers.

Torrey Craig (D-) 39.48 — Craig came in for defense, and to his credit, he did a good enough job posting an 81 DRtg in 12 minutes, which is really all that matters. His two blocks and two steals added to three boards were also nice to see. His struggles scoring while going in the negative per plus-minus hurt him a lot as his offensive output just wasn’t deemed to be efficient by our metric.

Scout’s Grade (C+) – Craig had his moments defensively, but also made his fair share of mistakes. Still, he provided decent defense on OKC’s wings.