Nuggets-Wizards Grades: Denver's bench mob is back and maybe better than ever

The Denver Nuggets continued their winning ways in the nation’s capital, with a 113-108 win over the Washington Wizards.

With eight players scoring in double figures, here are the biggest standouts from the night as 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 (B-) 68.02 — After a strong defensive performance against the Celtics, Jokic struggled a bit guarding Thomas Bryant, who finished with 22 points on 9-11 shooting. Jokic scored 22 points himself but finished with a sub-par 125 DRtg. He was also minus-10 in 35 minutes. Jokic still found a way to dish out 11 assists to only one turnover, all while recording an 18.5 USG%. He scored 15 points on 60 TS% and added six rebounds, half of which came on the offensive glass.

Jamal Murray (C) 58.80 — Murray’s night was far from spectacular in a minus-10 outing where he scored 15 points on a 53 eFG%. He did make a few key buckets and added two assists, two blocks, and four rebounds. Two factors that hurt Murray’s grade the most were his ORtg (103) and DRtg (117), both underwhelming figures.

Paul Millsap (B-) 68.33 — Millsap was the only starter with a positive plus-minus in 35 minutes, scoring 15 points and snatching six rebounds. Denver’s veteran power forward was outstanding, registering an 87 eFG%, and although his 111 DRtg wasn’t superb Millsap did have three steals and a block making his presence felt on the defensive end.

Will Barton (C-) 53.75 — Barton didn’t quite have it against the Wizards. He was a minus-18 in 20 minutes and scored 13 points on a 55 eFG%. His 123 DRtg and lack of assists hurt his grade and Barton only added four rebounds.

Gary Harris (C) 57.51 — Harris’ 15 points in 29 minutes came on a fairly ugly 43 eFG%, as he struggled to find his range from 3. Harris did make an impact on the offensive glass with four offensive rebounds and added two steals but like the rest of Denver’s starting lineup, his 118 DRtg was pretty rough on a night where he accounted for a high 27 USG%.

Malik Beasley (C+) 62.37 — Beasley was a game-high plus-21 in just 21 minutes, providing a spark for Denver with 10 points on a 55 eFG%. He added three rebounds, a steal, and an assist which raised his grade as did two makes from beyond the arc. What hurt his final mark was a poor 118 DRtg and pedestrian 7.5 GmSc.

Monte Morris (B-) 68.04 — Morris just barely missed out on being the game MVP, per DPR, tying four other players with a 68 grade in only 23 minutes. He was also a healthy plus-15 on the night. Morris’ 11 points on a masterful 100 eFG% were huge, resulting in a 159 ORtg. With only four assists to one turnover and one steal, his grade could’ve easily been higher but an unimpressive 121 DRtg hurt his mark.

Mason Plumlee (C+) 61.11 — All three Nuggets bigs scored a 60 or higher, as Plumlee did his thing off the bench. He finished a plus-15 and gobbled up 11 rebounds, dished out four assists, and added a steal. Sure, he only scored four points but made 2-of-3 attempts from the floor and scored a 136 ORtg. Lackluster advanced stats like DRtg, USG%, and GmSc ended up hurting his grade.

Torrey Craig (B-) 68.32 — Craig is coming off back-to-back standout performances as he accounted for a terrific plus-19 in 25 minutes, scoring 15 points and dishing out four assists, which ties his season high. Craig also had zero turnovers. The Nuggets’ defensive specialist was efficient offensively with a 68 eFG% and an impressive 144 ORtg. His 118 DRtg wasn’t superb despite a steal and a block, but a deeper look shows Craig was outstanding in the fourth quarter defending Bradley Beal, another feather in his cap.