The Nuggets didn’t get the result they wanted in their preseason opener, falling 109-97 to the Jazz on Sunday night in front of a Boulder crowd, but the box score still offered a few early clues about how Denver’s rotation might take shape.
Julian Strawther led the Nuggets with 14 points off the bench, and Aaron Gordon added 12 to stand as Denver’s only other double-digit scorer. Utah spread the production around much more evenly, getting five players into double figures. Lauri Markkanen paced the Jazz with 17 points, while Keyonte George finished with 15.
The game itself won’t count for anything, but it did give Denver a first look at a few players trying to carve out roles.
Tyus Jones made the start with Jamal Murray sidelined, and he handled the lead-guard duties cleanly. In 19 minutes, Jones posted eight points, two rebounds, and six assists while shooting 3-6 from the field and 2-3 from deep.
There has been plenty of offseason chatter about whether Denver can lean on him as the backup point guard, especially given concerns about his scoring punch and defense. On this night, though, he looked composed and confident with the ball, turning in what may have been his sharpest showing in a Nuggets uniform so far.
Trevon Brazile also made the most of a bigger opportunity. With Spencer Jones unavailable, Brazile slid into extra minutes as Denver’s backup power forward and logged 20 minutes off the bench.
He finished with seven points, three rebounds, and two blocks on 3-4 shooting, matching Strawther for the team lead in minutes. For a rookie making his unofficial NBA debut, it was a strong first impression.
Brazile flashed the kind of versatility that can make him useful in the rotation, and if Spencer Jones remains out longer this preseason, he should keep getting chances to build on it.
Lonnie Walker IV had a quieter night. For a player trying to earn a roster spot and his first NBA contract since the 2024-25 season, the timing of his first appearance wasn’t ideal.
He didn’t enter until the fourth quarter, which suggested David Adelman wasn’t ready to fold him into the main rotation just yet. Walker still had a few bright moments, but his line - three points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in nine minutes - didn’t quite move the needle.
He shot 1-4 from the field, including all of his attempts from beyond the arc.
If there was a bigger takeaway for Denver, it came on the health front. After a 2025-26 season wrecked by injuries, the Nuggets looked much closer to whole. Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson all appeared healthy and more comfortable, even if none of them piled up huge numbers beyond Gordon’s 12 points and four rebounds.
That matters. If Denver can keep that group on the floor, it already gives itself a much better foundation than it had last season. Even with Murray and Jones out, Sunday night offered a positive early look at a team that seemed far more intact than the one that limped through 2025-26.
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