The Denver Nuggets edged the Golden State Warriors 115-108 in a fourth-straight matchup that came down to the final few possessions.
Here’s how each Nuggets player performed.
Jamal Murray (A) – Murray took a Stephen Curry knee to the thigh early in the first quarter and was playing on one leg for the rest of the game. Denver’s starting point guard got worked on by the Nuggets’ training staff during timeouts and rode a stationary bike in the tunnel while he was on the bench but nothing gave Murray much relief. He gutted it out though for 28 minutes, though, in typical Murray fashion and still was able to tally 15 points on 4-9 shooting.
Gary Harris (B+) – Fresh off his game-winner against the Thunder, Harris couldn’t find his rhythm on offense and finished with 16 points on just 4-13 shooting. But Harris had to shadow Curry on the defensive end of the floor for much of the night — an assignment that takes a toll on any defender. Harris played a team-high 39 minutes.
***Will Barton (A+) – Barton’s not one to have his confidence shaken after a couple misses and after two missed game-winners versus Boston and San Antonio, the ball was right back in his hands in the fourth quarter against Golden State. Barton registered a team-high 25 points against the Warriors — 10 of which came in the fourth. He stepped up his offense with Murray struggling.
Wilson Chandler (B+) – Chandler was questionable for Saturday’s matchup with an illness. He’s been battling migraines and was clearly hurting Saturday. It’s hard to believe Chandler played even 24 minutes with how he looked running up and down the court but he was the Nuggets’ best option on Kevin Durant. Chandler finished a team-best plus-16 on the night.
Nikola Jokic (B+) – Denver’s big man should have had a much more productive night against the Warriors. Jokic missed four or five shots from around the rim — ones he usually makes — and never got into a rhythm on that end of the floor. Still, he went for 19, nine and five and was central to the Nuggets’ attack.
Trey Lyles (A) – Without Murray for some of the night, or Mason Plumlee, Denver’s bench unit is taped together with a band aid right now. The Nuggets needed someone to step up and on Saturday that guy was Lyles. He scored 15 points — every one of which felt like a huge basket at the time. Lyles also finished with 10 rebounds.
Torrey Craig (A) – Craig was Denver’s second-best option defending Durant and spelled Chandler whenever he needed a breather. He chipped in eight needed points off the Nuggets’ bench.
Darrell Arthur (B+) – Arthur still has a ton of rust on his game for not playing for much of the season and against the Warriors, it showed. But he still played his butt off, contributed to a surprisingly good bench unit Saturday and finished with five points and was a plus-eight overall. A solid outing from Arthur.
Emmanuel Mudiay (B) – Give credit to Mudiay. He’s been solid over the past week or so stretch where Nuggets coach Michael Malone has inserted him into the rotation. He still makes mistakes, has two turnovers in 21 minutes but handed out three assists.
*** denotes Player of the Game
Denver hosts the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
