The NBA Cup has already given the league a few useful previews, and Denver enters this year’s event with a path that looks about as clean as it gets.
The Nuggets open group play against the Phoenix Suns, and that matchup kicks off the weirdest visual of the tournament: the brightly colored courts that will make your TV look off on purpose. That’s part of the NBA Cup’s charm, but the real draw for Denver is what comes after. The Nuggets have not gotten out of the group stage in the past three years, yet this setup gives them a real shot to finally change that.
West Group A is workable for Denver, and the road through it is straightforward. After the Suns, the Nuggets will host the Houston Rockets on Nov. 20 at Ball Arena, then meet the Dallas Mavericks at home on Nov. 24 before finishing group play on the road against the Utah Jazz on Nov.
- If Denver wants to move on, the math is simple: only four teams in each conference advance, with group winners taking the automatic spots and the best second-place team by point differential grabbing the wild card.
That’s why the Nuggets’ record against these teams matters. Last season, they went 12-3 against the Suns, Rockets, Mavericks and Jazz.
The cleanest target is a 3-1 mark, which would put them in strong position to get through. For Denver, that would mean no more sitting outside the knockout rounds after finishing 2-2 in each of the last three years.
There are reasons to think the Nuggets can clean this up quickly, especially after the way they’ve looked in stretches early in the season. They heard boos in the home opener at Ball Arena after three sluggish quarters, when the defense lacked energy before Denver pulled off an epic fourth-quarter comeback against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The follow-up was much better. In a 104-91 win over the Pelicans, the Nuggets showed balanced scoring and strong team defense. They’ve brought real energy in the last five quarters they’ve played against New Orleans, and if that level holds, Denver can make a serious push to go 4-0 in group play.
And there’s more than just bragging rights here. The NBA Cup offers the chance to bring another trophy into Ball Arena, plus a cash bonus that matters to some of the lower-paid bench players.
In Other News...
Peyton Watson Is Making Denver's Offseason Choice Look Smarter
When Denver moved Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade after contract talks stalled, it was the kind of decision that could have looked risky if the wrong side of the deal got the better end. A player who had flashed enough last season to make the Nuggets think twice was suddenly in Cleveland, and the question for Denver became whether the roster could absorb the loss without creating another hole on the wing.
So far, the early returns have made the Nuggets offseason pivot look more sensible. Watson has not found the same rhythm from deep with the Cavaliers that he showed in Denver, while rookie Trevon Brazile has stepped into a similar role and given the Nuggets a cheaper option to develop. It is still early, but Denver has reason to feel better about the way it handled the situation. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found The Frontcourt Defender They Desperately Needed
Trevon Brazile has given the Nuggets something they have been searching for early this season: a frontcourt defender who can change possessions with length, activity and athleticism. The rookie has already stood out in Denvers recent games, including a strong showing against the New Orleans Pelicans, where his presence helped make life harder for opposing shooters and added a different kind of energy to the rotation.
What has made Brazile especially intriguing is how quickly his defense has translated to the NBA level. He has been limiting opponents efficiency and giving Denver a sturdier look on that end of the floor, which matters for a team trying to build consistency around its bigger lineups. The bigger question now is whether this early impact is the start of a real role, or just the first glimpse of what he can become. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Braun Is Starting To Quiet A Big Nuggets Concern
Christian Brauns early-season jump is starting to ease one of the Nuggets quieter concerns. After working back from injury, he has looked more active on both ends, giving Denver the kind of perimeter energy it needs while also showing signs that his offense is expanding beyond the basics. The defensive impact has been especially noticeable, with Braun averaging 2.3 steals per game and looking more comfortable sliding into the role the team envisioned for him.
The offensive growth matters just as much for a roster that needs reliable two-way production around its stars. Braun has shown more variety in how he scores, including a willingness to get to mid-range spots and make plays for others, which helps explain why his recent form has stood out. If this is the version of Braun Denver gets consistently, it goes a long way toward making his contract look like a smart bet rather than a lingering question. [Read more 🡒]