The Denver Nuggets came out of a 96-84 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with more than just a bruised scoreline. In a game that turned into a defensive grind, one of the clearest positives was the way Denver’s non-Nikola Jokic minutes held up. That’s a shift the Nuggets badly needed, and it showed up right away with the revamped second unit.
This was not a night the starters will want to revisit. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray both struggled badly, with Jokic finishing at -20, Christian Braun also at -20, and Murray at -15.
For a team that usually leans on that group to set the tone, those numbers tell the story. The bench, though, gave Denver something it didn’t get enough of last season: stability when Jokic sat.
Against one of the NBA’s better bench groups, the Nuggets’ second unit did more than survive. It won the non-Jokic minutes by eight points, and even if you strip out the 5-0 run in the final two minutes of garbage time, Denver was still plus-3 in those stretches.
That matters. If the bench can keep producing like that, the Nuggets have a real path to being better than they were a year ago, especially with Jokic and Murray likely to bounce back.
Marvin Bagley III gave Denver some real muscle inside during his 11 minutes spelling Jokic. Alpha Diallo brought the kind of perimeter defense that can change possessions, fighting through screens and keeping Oklahoma City from getting clean paths into the paint. Those small wins added up.
There were also encouraging performances from the newcomers. Trevon Brazile, filling in for Spencer Jones while Jones continues recovering from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since the start of preseason, looked like the most athletic Nugget on the floor in his NBA debut. He finished with 12 rebounds in 18 minutes, including three on the offensive glass.
DeMar DeRozan, meanwhile, got extended run in Cameron Johnson’s place during the second half and gave Denver a smoother offensive option. In his Nuggets debut, he went 5-for-9 for 13 points in 28 minutes and showed off his mid-range touch.
Still, the second unit wasn’t spotless. Tyus Jones never found his footing against Oklahoma City’s defense, finishing with two points, no assists, and one steal. DeRozan also coughed it up five times as he adjusted to a new role with new teammates.
Even with those issues, the bigger picture was hard to miss. Denver outscored the Thunder 33-31 from the bench, and this wasn’t against a soft matchup.
Oklahoma City’s reserve group is loaded. If the Nuggets can carry this kind of production forward, the non-Jokic minutes won’t be a problem spot anymore.
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Nuggets Opener Has An Unexpected Subplot Tied To The Thunder
The Nuggets regular-season opener against the Thunder already had a little extra edge to it, and the injury report has added another layer of intrigue. Denver listed Spencer Jones as questionable because of bilateral hamstring injury management, while Julian Strawther is out with a left knee sprain, leaving the roster with a bit less wing depth heading into a matchup that usually carries plenty of attention anyway.
Jones has been part of the conversation around Denver since the offseason, when his place on the roster became a talking point in its own right. With the Thunder also dealing with multiple unavailable players as they work back from surgeries, the opener still has the feel of a game where the margins matter, and the Nuggets will be watching closely to see how the latest lineup decisions shape up before tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Opener Will Put Denvers Shaky New Rotation Under Pressure
The Nuggets are heading into their 2026-27 opener in Oklahoma City with more questions than usual around the back end of the roster, and the timing could not be trickier. Denver has spent the offseason reworking pieces around its core, losing Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown while adding DeMar DeRozan, a veteran scorer who figures to give the second unit a different look as the group settles in.
David Adelman has already signaled that the rotation is still a work in progress, which means the first few games may be as much about sorting roles as chasing a clean result. Denver will need those answers quickly against the Thunder, because early-season experimentation is one thing on paper and another when the opponent is sharp enough to expose every shaky minute. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Not Be Done Addressing A Backup Guard Problem
The Nuggets search for help behind Jamal Murray may not be over yet. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Denver had interest in Kevin Porter Jr. before Milwaukee waived him, a sign the team is still keeping an eye on ways to upgrade a backup guard spot that has been a point of discussion around the roster. Porter has long been viewed as a player who could give Denver more punch offensively than Tyus Jones in that reserve role.
Finding a path to him is another matter. Denvers salary-cap situation leaves little room for maneuver, and bringing Porter in now would require the front office to navigate a crowded roster picture while also managing the financial consequences of a move. The Nuggets can keep looking, but any attempt to add another guard would come with real complications attached. [Read more 🡒]