Nuggets-Timberwolves Grades: Turnovers cost Denver again

The Denver Nuggets fell 112-104 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in just their third loss this season at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets’ 21 turnovers leading to 21 Timberwolves’ points and Nikola Jokic’s 10 giveaways stood out as the main reason for the loss.

How did each player perform?  Let’s find out…

Jamal Murray (B+) – Murray scored a game-high 30 points and kept Denver alive with his offense. He shot an efficient 10-17 from the field and hit 5-6 from distance. But Murray’s defense on Minnesota point guard Jeff Teague left much to be desired. Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone referenced the number of blow-bys his team allowed during his postgame comments and Teague was routinely able to get into Denver’s paint. Four of Teague’s five field goals came from two-point range. It was a great offensive game from Murray but he struggled on defense.

Torrey Craig (B+) – Craig was solid on defense for a third-straight game and checked three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler tonight. Butler finished with 25 points and Craig defended him well. But sometimes in the NBA, great offense just beats great defense. Craig’s loose handle contributed to at least of his three turnovers and he’ll have to control his dribble more going forward. He should stick in Denver’s starting lineup Friday in Portland. You know what to expect from Craig on defense and his 10 points are an added bonus. He’s hit double-figures in two of the three games he’s played with the Nuggets this week.

Wilson Chandler (B) – Denver’s starting small forward never stands out on the stat sheet but he played solid defense on Andrew Wiggins tonight. Wiggins shot just 3-12 after also struggling in Portland on Monday. As a team, the Nuggets past up a lot of open shots tonight — another talking point Malone hit on after the game — and Chandler passed up one or two good looks from the field. His three-pointer with 3:42 left in the fourth was needed and for a possession that basket looked like it was going to get Denver back into a rhythm on offense. It didn’t. The Nuggets scored just two field goals over the game’s last three minutes and 11 seconds — one of which was a Murray consolation layup.

Mason Plumlee (A) – Besides Plumlee’s three turnovers, he was solid. Plumlee played good defense down low on Karl-Anthony Towns and was effective on offense. Plumlee scored 13 points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists. He was a team-high plus-12 in 29 minutes. Malone applauded his defense after the game. Tonight, Plumlee became only the second player this season (LeBron James) to post 13-plus points, 10-plus rebounds 6-plus assists and 3-plus steals in 29 minutes or less.

Nikola Jokic (C) – Tonight was an odd game from Jokic. The big man returned to the Nuggets’ starting lineup alongside Plumlee and scored 22 points but committed 10 turnovers. Like some of his teammates, Jokic past up a few open shots. But what stood out from Jokic’s night was the number of risky passes he tried to make. Jokic always has a flair for the dramatic but tonight, something was off. He was trying to fit the ball into tight spots that just weren’t there time and time again tonight.

Will Barton (C-) – Barton struggled for a second-straight game. He finished with just six points on 3-9 shooting, equalling his total from the 2-15 showing against Oklahoma City on Monday. Barton hurt his knee in the first quarter and called for a sub at first but then waived the Nuggets’ bench off. Either way, Barton’s team-worst minus-28 sticks out like a sore thumb. He gets the benefit of the doubt for his injury.

Trey Lyles (A) – Another solid game from Lyles. Denver was awful with him on the floor defensively but on offense Lyles continues to produce. He scored 15 points on a crisp 5-9 shooting and hit two threes. Lyles’ 15 first-half points paced Denver to a 52-50 lead at the break. The third-year forward continues to hover around 50 percent from three on the season.

Malik Beasley (B) – Beasley only played six minutes tonight — all of which came in the first half. He committed one turnover but hit a three.

The Nuggets take on the Trail Blazers in Portland on Friday then play Golden State on a back-to-back Saturday in Oakland.