Nuggets-Timberwolves Grades: How Denver came back to salvage its season

A season of hard work seemed to be slowly going down the train until the Denver Nuggets stormed back to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-95 Wednesday in a comeback for the ages.

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-) 80.75 — What a bounce-back performance from Jokic who scored 29 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in 37 minutes to lead the Nuggets to victory, ending the game at plus-16. Jokic’s 53 TS% helped his grade, as did his high 38 USG%, while adding three steals and two assists. His grade would’ve been even higher if not for four fouls and four turnovers with pretty mediocre offensive and defensive ratings.

Jamal Murray (B+) 74.58 — Murray hit the dagger 3 that saved the Nuggets in the end, scoring 17 points, with eight rebounds and seven dimes. His 62 eFG% and 125 ORtg were impressive as he ended the game as a plus-16.

Paul Millsap (C+) 61.23 — Millsap was a steady presence for Denver, scoring just nine points although he went plus-17 on the evening with eight boards and three assists in 32 minutes.

Gary Harris (C) 57.96 — On a night where Harris scored 14 points on a 53 TS%, it felt like he was closer to his old self than he has been in a while, getting to the line five times as he stayed aggressive and attacked the rim. In 39 minutes Harris accounted for a plus-6 with three rebounds, one steal, one assist, and a block. The advanced figures weren’t too impressive but his presence was certainly felt throughout.

Will Barton (C+) 64.46 — Even if far from perfect, Barton was crucial in Denver’s comeback and fell just a rebound short of a double-double on a 10-point and nine-rebound night. While his shooting percentages weren’t great (45 eFG%), Barton played his part with a 104 ORtg and a 98 DRtg, adding four assists, one steal and one block while playing clutch defense down the stretch on Andrew Wiggins.

Mason Plumlee (C-) 53.43 — Like most of the reserves on the night, Plumlee didn’t fare too well, tallying a minus-15 in 14 minutes. Denver’s veteran center only scored two points but pulled down six rebounds, with one block and two assists, all decent figures in limited minutes.

Monte Morris (C) 55.00 — Morris was also minus-10 on the evening, scoring just seven points in 21 minutes on some pretty poor shooting percentages. He did manage to dish out three assists with zero turnovers and one steal, allowing him to salvage a passing rade.

Torrey Craig (C+) 64.28 — There isn’t another player with a more contentious relationship with DPR than Craig. In a game where Denver’s defensive specialist only played 13 minutes, was minus-10, and didn’t do anything beyond scoring four points while only grabbing one single rebound and one assist, you’d expect his grade to be lower than this. However, Craig was perfect from the field and scored a 203 ORtg, taking him into the C+ range as he stayed turnover free.

Malik Beasley (D+) 48.65 — Beasley wasn’t his best in 17 minutes, scoring just seven points on a 35 eFG% for a 76 ORtg and a 107 DRtg.