Grading Nuggets Players After Failing To Show Up In 133-104 Beatdown Against Timberwolves

The Denver Nuggets’ strong road record hit a bump on Saturday night as they fell 133-104 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a one-sided contest. Despite Jamal Murray’s 25 points and Nikola Jokic’s double-double with 20 points and 11 assists, Denver was unable to keep up with Minnesota’s hot shooting and relentless energy, ending their four-game winning streak. The loss marked just their ninth defeat in 23 road games this season and came at the start of a challenging five-game road trip.

The Nuggets struggled defensively from the outset as the Timberwolves exploded for a season-high 40 points in the first quarter, shooting an impressive 69.2% from the field. Denver’s defense, which had been a key factor during their recent stretch of success, couldn’t slow down Anthony Edwards, who led Minnesota with 34 points. Edwards was unstoppable in the second half, pouring in 23 points as the Timberwolves pulled away.

Nikola Jokic, fresh off a streak of five consecutive triple-doubles, was uncharacteristically quiet on the boards with just three rebounds. His inability to dominate in the paint compounded Denver’s struggles, as Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert controlled the glass with 14 rebounds to go along with 14 points. The Nuggets’ trademark offensive rhythm was disrupted, with missed opportunities and turnovers limiting their ability to mount a comeback.

A pivotal moment came midway through the third quarter with Denver trailing 91-77. Despite forcing a miss from Edwards on a 3-point attempt, the Nuggets failed to secure the rebound, as Gobert’s relentless effort on the glass kept the possession alive. After multiple second-chance opportunities, the ball found its way back to Edwards, who drained a 3-pointer to extend Minnesota’s lead to 17 points. That sequence epitomized the Timberwolves’ hustle and Denver’s struggles in the game.

While the Nuggets had been one of the Western Conference’s best road teams, Saturday’s loss highlighted the challenge of maintaining consistency on a grueling road trip. Denver will look to regroup as it continues its journey, but let's grade each player for his performance on Saturday. 

Jamal Murray: B

Stats: 25 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 10-16 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, -23, 35 MIN

Murray was the Nuggets' leading scorer with 25 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also chipped in 5 assists but had minimal impact on the boards, grabbing just 2 rebounds in 35 minutes. While his offensive production kept Denver competitive early on, his -23 plus/minus highlighted the team’s overall defensive struggles, particularly during critical stretches when Minnesota pulled away.

Nikola Jokic: B-

Stats: 20 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 11 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 7 TO, 0 PF, 9-13 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-1 FT, -24, 32 MIN

 Jokic recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists but uncharacteristically grabbed just 3 rebounds. He was efficient offensively, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, but his 7 turnovers hurt Denver’s chances of gaining momentum. Jokic’s inability to control the glass allowed Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert to dominate, further highlighting the reigning MVP's subdued impact on the boards.

Russell Westbrook: B-

Stats: 13 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 4 PF, 6-10 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, -17, 28 MIN

Westbrook provided a spark off the bench with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. He shot efficiently from the field (6-of-10) but missed all three of his three-point attempts and committed 4 turnovers. While his energy and scoring gave Denver a lift at times, his defensive lapses and -17 plus/minus underscored the team’s overall lack of cohesion.

Aaron Gordon: C+

Stats: 13 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, -10, 25 MIN

Gordon scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while adding 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He showed flashes of his usual versatility but failed to make a significant impact on the glass or defensively. His -10 plus/minus reflected Denver’s struggles to match Minnesota’s intensity during his 25 minutes on the floor.

Christian Braun: C+

Stats: 10 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 4-8 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-1 FT, -19, 26 MIN

Braun contributed 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting while grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing 3 assists. His effort on the boards and ability to find scoring opportunities were positives, but his -19 plus/minus highlighted his struggles to contain Minnesota’s wings. Despite the loss, Braun showed promise in his ability to contribute across multiple facets.

Michael Porter Jr.: C+

Stats: 11 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-10 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -17, 31 MIN

Porter Jr. scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, but failed to record a single rebound in 31 minutes. His inability to make an impact outside of scoring and a -17 plus/minus illustrated a lack of activity on both ends of the court. Porter’s performance underscored the need for greater consistency in his overall contributions.

Peyton Watson: C

Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 18 MIN

Watson provided energy on defense with 3 blocks and 1 steal, along with 3 rebounds and 2 points in 18 minutes. However, he struggled offensively, shooting 1-of-4 from the field. While his defensive activity was a bright spot, his limited scoring and -9 plus/minus reflected his inability to influence the game significantly.

Julian Strawther: C-

Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 1-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-2 FT, -12, 18 MIN

Strawther had a tough night offensively, scoring just 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc. He added 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 18 minutes but struggled to find his rhythm. His -12 plus/minus reflected the team’s overall struggles during his time on the floor.

DeAndre Jordan: N/A

Stats: 4 PTS, 6 REB (4 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 6 MIN

Jordan made the most of his limited minutes, scoring 4 points on 2-of-2 shooting while grabbing 6 rebounds, 4 of which were offensive. His +2 plus/minus in just 6 minutes showed his ability to make a quick impact, although his time on the court was too brief to influence the game meaningfully.

Zeke Nnaji: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 5 MIN

Nnaji scored 2 points and grabbed 1 rebound in 5 minutes, shooting 1-of-3 from the field. His limited minutes and lack of significant contributions left little room for evaluation, as he was unable to leave a notable mark on the game.

PJ Hall: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, -4, 5 MIN

Hall contributed 2 points on 2-of-2 free-throw shooting and grabbed 2 rebounds in 5 minutes. He missed his only field goal attempt and didn’t have enough time on the court to make a substantial impact.

Hunter Tyson: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-2 FT, -4, 5 MIN

Tyson was active on the boards with 4 rebounds but failed to score, shooting 0-of-3 from the field, including 0-of-2 from deep. In 5 minutes, his -4 plus/minus reflected his limited impact on the game.

Jalen Pickett: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 5 MIN

Pickett played 5 minutes and recorded just 1 assist while missing his only shot attempt. His brief appearance didn’t provide enough time for him to influence the game in any meaningful way.