For years, the Nuggets’ second unit has been the part of the night that made Denver fans hold their breath. When Nikola Jokic sat, leads often shrank. Against the Pacers in Mexico City, it went the other way.
Denver beat Indiana 114-102 to improve to 5-3, and the bench did something that has not always been part of the script: it stretched the advantage while Jokic rested in the second quarter. The Nuggets were up 8 after the first, then with Jokic back in at 5:45 left in the second, the margin had grown to 19. Denver outscored Indiana 24-13 during that stretch with Jokic on the bench, and that run ended up being the game’s turning point.
That mattered even more because Jokic and Jamal Murray did not have huge scoring nights. Instead, the second unit helped keep the game from tilting back toward Indiana and gave Denver enough cushion to stay in control.
Spencer Jones was a big part of that. Back after missing the first seven games with bilateral hamstring injuries, he gave the Nuggets 13 points and 6 rebounds, plus the kind of physical defense the second group had been lacking.
He was not alone, either. DeMar DeRozan added 11 points and 5 assists off the bench, while Marvin Bagley III chipped in 10 points.
Altogether, Denver’s reserves produced 42 points, while Jokic and Murray combined for 35.
That kind of bench output is not just a one-night story, either. Through eight games, Denver’s reserve play has been the best it has been in years.
The Nuggets have a +9.1 net differential with Jokic on the floor, which is down from last season’s +13.9 and the 2024-25 mark of +19.5, according to Databallr. To find a lower number, you have to go back to 2020-21, when it was +7.2.
The odd part is that the early-season split has actually tilted the other way in the non-Jokic minutes. Denver has posted a 117.1 offensive rating with Jokic on the floor and a 119.1 when he sits. Defensively, the gap is much clearer: 112.3 with Jokic on the court and 123.3 without him.
Those numbers are almost certainly going to move as the season unfolds. But for now, they point to something Denver has not always had: a bench that can survive the non-Jokic minutes and, at least against Indiana, do more than that.
It is only eight games, but Marvin Bagley’s role as the anchor of those stretches has already made a noticeable difference, and the whole second unit deserves credit for it.
In Other News...
Aaron Gordon Gave Nuggets Fans A Mexico City Moment To Love
The Nuggets trip to Mexico City already had the feel of a showcase game, with Denver taking care of Indiana 114-102 and getting solid work from Cam Johnson, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Pascal Siakam carried the Pacers offensively, but the night belonged to the broader experience as much as the box score, with two teams playing in front of a crowd that got a rare regular-season treat outside the U.S.
Before tipoff, Aaron Gordon helped provide the kind of local touch that can turn a neutral-site game into something memorable for the home crowd. It was the sort of small moment that travels well, especially in a game like this, and it fit neatly into a night that gave Nuggets fans something extra to remember before the team and Indiana both head to Texas for their next games. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Jokic Knows Why The Nuggets Needed Spencer Jones Back
The Nuggets have spent much of the early part of the 2026-27 season juggling injuries, but their rotation looked a lot more settled once Spencer Jones was back in the mix. Denver had most of its regulars available again, with Julian Strawther still sidelined, and Jones return gave the team another long, versatile piece to lean on at both ends of the floor.
Nikola Jokic and coach David Adelman both pointed to the same thing after Jones rejoined the group: his value goes beyond filling a spot in the lineup. His defense helps Denver hold up on the perimeter, and his shooting and overall activity give the offense another layer, which is exactly the kind of balance the Nuggets have been missing while trying to patch together the early schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Just Missed On A Young Wing They Could Have Used
A young wing the Nuggets could have used is on the move again, with Oklahoma City landing Nique Clifford from Sacramento after he had seen his role shrink early in the season. The second-year player, taken 24th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, now gives the Thunder another developmental piece on the perimeter, while Denver is left to watch a player who fit a clear need land elsewhere.
The deal also underscores how aggressive Oklahoma City has been in chasing upside on the margins, even if it means shuffling the back end of the roster to make room. Cliffords arrival could mean a roster move is coming soon, and for the Nuggets it is another reminder that the market for young, versatile wings can move quickly when a team is willing to act. [Read more 🡒]