The Denver Nuggets may be on the verge of getting two important names back in the mix as they prepare for Friday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
Cameron Johnson, who left Denver’s season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter with an ankle sprain, has been upgraded to questionable. Johnson missed the second half of opening night and has sat out each of the Nuggets’ three games since, but this latest status change points to a return that could be close.
That would be a big lift for Denver. Johnson has appeared in just 11 minutes this season, but his value to the roster is clear. If he’s able to play in Phoenix, the Nuggets will have a much better shot at moving to 3-2 on the season.
Last year, after being traded to Denver in the summer of 2025, Johnson put up 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field and 43% from three-point range. That outside shooting matters even more right now, because Denver has struggled from deep this season.
Johnson was one of only eight players in the NBA last season to shoot 43% or better from long range, and Jamal Murray was also in that group. This season, Murray is the only Nugget shooting above 34% from three at 47.1%, which makes Johnson’s return even more important.
Denver has held things together with different starting looks during Johnson’s absence. Second-round rookie Bryce Hopkins got the first chance to fill in, and co-rookie Trevon Brazile earned the start in Wednesday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The young guys delivered when called upon, but the Nuggets would obviously prefer to have their regular lineup back intact.
Johnson may not be the only reinforcement on the way. Alpha Diallo has also been upgraded to questionable after missing the last three games for personal reasons. His absence has been felt on the defensive end, so a return from him would help Denver on that side of the floor as well.
The Nuggets are still waiting on Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones to come back from injury, but the direction is at least moving the right way. Even if Johnson and Diallo don’t get the green light Friday, the fact that both have been upgraded suggests their returns are close.
After the trip to Phoenix, Denver comes home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday after two nights of rest. That could be another chance to see Johnson and Diallo back on the floor.
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Braziles role is only part of the dilemma now, because the bench also turned heads in the win over New Orleans. Marvin Bagley III and DeMar DeRozan gave the second unit real pop, and their play added another layer to Adelmans choices as the Nuggets look for the right mix once the roster starts to heal. [Read more 🡒]
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A big part of that progress came from the energy of the young guys, with rookies Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins giving the team minutes that stood out for the right reasons. Denver has been searching for a steadier defensive identity, and while one strong night does not settle that question, the latest performance at least gave the Nuggets something tangible to build on as they try to make that consistency stick. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Young Core Is Already Forcing A Rotation Debate
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Elsewhere, the picture is less settled. Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon have had their moments, but the early mix has not been clean enough to settle every question, and DaRon Holmes has barely been able to get on the floor through four games. For a team trying to balance immediate results with development, that kind of uneven distribution is already nudging the staff toward a harder decision about who deserves real run and who is getting squeezed out. [Read more 🡒]