Nuggets-Warriors Grades: Harris, Chandler lock down Golden State

The Denver Nuggets pieced together their most impressive win of the season Saturday night, a 96-81 victory over the defending champion Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets held the Warriors to a season-low 81 points.

Here’s how each Nuggets player performed.

Jamal Murray (B+) – Murray only shot 4-10 but ran the offense effectively and hit timely baskets tonight. He also dished out five assists to only two turnovers against a good Warriors’ defense. Murray only played 26 minutes and it does seem like Nuggets coach Michael Malone doesn’t like to play him more than 30, unless he’s really feeling it.

Gary Harris (A) – Harris is proving game-to-game that he’s one of the most important players on the Nuggets’ roster. Jokic makes Denver’s engine run but Harris is instrumental to the Nuggets’ success on both ends of the floor. Less than 24 hours after limiting C.J. McCollum to 15 points, Harris held Klay Thompson to 15 points on 6-21 shooting. His twisting lay-in late in the fourth quarter and dagger jumper to put the Nuggets up 17 with 3:29 on the clock were both huge baskets. Harris finished with a team-high 19 points.

Wilson Chandler (A+) – Chandler’s defensive presence has been obvious all season but tonight, he was stellar. Chandler shadowed Kevin Durant all game and limited one of the league’s best scorers to just 18 points on 6-17 shooting. Durant also went 0-5 from three and looked frustrated all night. Chandler chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds as well.

Nikola Jokic (A+) – Denver’s starting center played a well-rounded game tonight. He finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and played 37 minutes on back-to-back nights on an ankle that’s still not 100 percent. But the most impressive part of Jokic’s night was how he stayed composed in the fourth quarter. After Jokic caught Draymond Green with an elbow and Green subsequently flopped, Jokic kept his cool. The Serbian later added the icing on the cake when he corralled an offensive rebound and finished over the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

Mason Plumlee (A+) – Plumlee’s play on the court wasn’t deserving of an A+ grade but the fact that he battled through not one but two dislocated fingers and still was able to log 25 minutes, earns him some brownie points. Plumlee has been fantastic over this recent stretch for Denver going back to when Jokic missed time with an ankle injury and is proving to be an integral piece to the Nuggets’ rotation.

Will Barton (B) – Barton averaged 16.2 points per game in November but hasn’t reached his average since Dec. 15 versus New Orleans. Denver’s sixth-man scored nine points tonight on 3-8 shooting in 29 minutes. More importantly, Barton was team-high a plus-19. The Nuggets played well with Barton off the floor after he finished as a minus-two in Portland and a minus-28 against Minnesota.

Trey Lyles (A+) – Another stellar outing from Lyles. He again came off Denver’s bench — in a role he’s really growing int0 — and scored 15 points on 7-14 shooting. Lyles hit a timely three in the fourth quarter and logged 29 minutes. He was solid on the defensive end of the floor as well.

Torrey Craig (B+) – Craig’s role has dropped off a bit since he’s gone to the bench but he’s still giving the Nuggets good minutes. Tonight, he played 14 minutes and was a plus-three. He was able to spell Chandler and guard Durant when Denver’s starting small forward needed a rest.

Malik Beasley (B+) – Beasley understands his role and is playing hard when he gets a chance on the court. He only played nine minutes tonight and made the one field goal he attempted.

Denver returns home for the holiday and hosts the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.