Players Grades: Lakers vs. Nuggets

Grading every Lakers player’s performance from the team’s 108-106 Game 5 loss to the Nuggets.

The Lakers gave everything they had on Monday, but their season ended after five games against the Nuggets, losing 108-106 in a game that had the intensity of a Finals game more so than that of a first round matchup.

Both teams appeared spent, with Jamal Murray dealing with a calf injury, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with a rolled ankle and Anthony Davis with a shoulder injury.

In the end, the Nuggets pulled away with another game-winner by Murray. This time, it was over Austin Reaves, who contested well but could not stop the shot from going in.

So, let’s grade the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

44 minutes, 30 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, 11-21 FG, 3-7 3PT, 5-7 FT, +3

LeBron giveth LeBron taketh away. Overall, King James gave a good effort, but the missed free throws hurt and the inability to grab a rebound over Aaron Gordon late will play on repeat in my mind for days on end.

The talk will quickly turn into the summer and another contract decision to be made by James, but he gave the Lakers a chance tonight, especially with a hobbled Anthony Davis.

Grade: B

Anthony Davis

40 minutes, 17 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 8-11 FG, 1-2 FT, -4

Heart of a champion stuff by AD on Monday. He hurt his shoulder severely in the third quarter and could not raise that arm for at least a long stretch of the game. Despite being injured, he found ways to protect the rim and grab defensive rebounds with one arm.

Although he couldn’t score in the second half, he continued to find ways to be positive and kept the Lakers in the game. May his performances and consistency this season finally put to bed any accusations that he’s soft.

Grade: A

Rui Hachimura

34 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 6-15 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, -8

This was one of the better games by Hachimura, but there were still plenty of disappointments. He missed too many open corner 3-pointers the Nuggets dared him to shoot. His defense was poor, including in the final play, where he failed to help at the nail to defend Murray.

Grade: B-

Austin Reaves

34 minutes, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 6-11 FG, 1-4 3PT, 6-8 FT, +1

Reaves had an up-and-down series but stepped up big for the Lakers in Game 5. When the Lakers needed a score, he drove to the basket, hitting clutch shots. He carried more of the offensive load late, running the offense at times as well.

Defensively, he stayed with Murray and challenged him as best as possible. Murray still got the better of Reaves, but that’s because Murray is a great player. It wasn’t explosive and electric like his Memphis series last year, but the second half demonstrated why Reaves is a big game player.

Grade: A

D’Angelo Russell

39 minutes, 14 points, 1 rebounds, 6 assists, 6-15 FG, 2-10 3PT, +7

This was a meh performance by Russell. He attacked the basket well, but Denver dared him to shoot from beyond the arc and he didn’t make them pay, going 2-10 from deep.

Russell is mediocre at best defensively and despite having a plus-minus of +7, he felt like a neutral player. For every good play Russell made, he made an equally bad one. With AD out, they needed him to step up his game and he didn’t.

Grade: C-

Jaxson Hayes

7 minutes, 1 point, 5 rebounds, 1-2 FT, +6

Hayes got some great cardio in on Monday. He gave a good effort during his shift trying to protect the rim with...mixed results. Offense was a no go, but he did his job which was to allow the stars a breather with the team not falling off a cliff while they rested.

Grade: D

Gabe Vincent

9 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, -5

Vincent played all nine minutes poorly. I understand he’s returning from injury, but the defense was a good effort with poor execution and the offense was non-existent. His minutes continued to dwindle throughout the series, but honestly, I would’ve preferred a DNP. This was rough.

Grade: F

Taurean Prince

19 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, 0-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, -5

I’m so over the Taurean Prince experience. Monday was all the flaws in his game on full display. Too eager to dribble from the wing and take a shot at the rim that’s highly contested, missed open jumpers and the occasional defensive lapses. I am over it and many fans are, too.

Grade: F

Spencer Dinwiddie

14 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2-4 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-2 FT, -5

There is not enough offense and minimal defense; if this was the last time we see Dinwiddie in a Lakers uniform, no tears would be shed. You watch Spencer play and wish for a better version of him, but for every game that happens, you get five like this.

Grade: F

Darvin Ham

Ham should’ve called a timeout earlier when the Lakers gave up their eight-point lead. He should’ve used his foul to give on the final possesion and why no minutes at all for Jarred Vanderbilt or Christian Wood? Why not at least dust the tires of Max Christie instead of playing a bad Vincent, Prince and Dinwiddie?

Even if I could ask Ham these questions, the response would likely leave me unsatisfied. The most important question now is, was this the last game Ham coached for the Lakers?

Something to keep an eye on as the offseason begins now.

Grade: C

Monday’s DNPs: Max Christie, Jaxson Hayes, Maxwell Lewis, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood

Monday’s inactives: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Cam Reddish

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.