The Nuggets found their shooting touch just in time to keep pace in a game that exposed a bigger issue underneath it all.
Denver beat Phoenix 127-120 in the first game of the NBA Cup, and the headline was obvious: Jamal Murray and Christian Braun lit it up from deep. Braun went 7-for-9 from three, Murray matched him at 7-for-9, and together they became the first pair of Nuggets teammates to each hit seven or more threes in the same game. Braun’s early-season leap has been one of the more encouraging developments for Denver, especially because his outside shot was the piece that had kept him from fully becoming an elite role player.
As a team, the Nuggets drilled 20 threes and shot 54.1% from beyond the arc. After a slow opening stretch compared to last season’s league-best 39.6% mark, Denver is back in the mix at 37.4% through five games, good for seventh in the league.
If that number holds, the Nuggets can survive a lot. But they can’t keep leaning this hard on perimeter shooting if the paint production stays this thin.
That’s where the concern starts to creep in. Denver managed only 32 points in the paint against the Suns, and that’s not a one-night blip so much as part of a rough early trend.
Through five games, the Nuggets are averaging just 42.8 paint points per game, which ranks 25th in the league. That’s a sharp drop for a team that was the NBA’s top paint scoring group in 2024-25 at 58.5 points per game before sliding to 18th last season at 48.7.
Nikola Jokic’s numbers reflect that slowdown. He’s averaging 21.2 points, which would be his lowest scoring mark since 2019-20, when he finished at 19.9 per game. Against Phoenix, he had 18 points, with 10 coming in the paint, and he went 0-for-1 from three.
Denver did most of its work against the Suns from the outside and in the midrange. That can win games when the shots are falling. But if the Nuggets don’t start turning more possessions into easy looks around the rim, they’re going to need near-perfect nights from three just to keep the offense humming.
In Other News...
Christian Braun Is Forcing A Bigger Nuggets Question Early
Christian Braun has come out of the gate looking every bit like a player ready to take on a larger role in Denvers rotation. Through the Nuggets first five games, he has blended scoring, spacing and defensive activity in a way that keeps him on the floor and in the conversation, whether he is finishing possessions or helping set the tone on the other end.
What makes this start more interesting is how closely it tracks his 2024-25 form, which suggests this is not just a hot week but a continuation of real growth. Braun has been active defensively, disruptive on the ball and steady enough offensively to make the Nuggets think about how much more responsibility he can handle as the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Already Have A Backup Guard Problem They Can't Ignore
The Nuggets early bench look has already put a spotlight on one of the trickier rotation questions around the backcourt. Tyus Jones was brought in to steady second-unit minutes, but his role has been limited so far, and the pairing with DeMar DeRozan has not given Denver the kind of two-way lift it needs when the starters sit. DeRozans defense has been a concern, as expected, and the overall fit has left the Nuggets searching for a better answer.
What makes the issue more pressing is how much the team is leaning on Jamal Murray to carry the load in the meantime. Denver is already exploring other ways to handle backup point guard minutes, which suggests the current setup is not something it can simply ride out. For a team with real postseason ambitions, getting that reserve guard spot right may end up mattering a lot more than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Murray Delivered The Kind Of Night Denver Needed Right Now
The Nuggets finally got the kind of lift they had been waiting for in NBA Cup play, beating the Suns 127-120 for their first tournament win of the season and pushing themselves above .500 for the first time this year. Jamal Murray led the charge with 39 points, giving Denver the sort of high-end shotmaking it needed in a game that carried a little extra edge and a little extra urgency.
Christian Braun also played a major role in the win with a breakout scoring night, helping Denver keep pace when the Suns tried to make it uncomfortable. The game had its flashpoint, too, when Dillon Brooks was ejected after an intentional kickout that was reviewed by officials, a moment that only added to the tension before the Nuggets closed things out. [Read more 🡒]