The Nuggets’ preseason loss to the Clippers will be remembered for one thing above all else: Julian Strawther went down with a knee injury that looked significant in the third quarter.
Denver lost in LA, but the bigger concern came from a player who had been building real momentum all preseason. Strawther had been averaging an efficient 13.3 points per game off the bench, and he was productive again before the injury struck.
He finished with 11 points and 2 rebounds while shooting 3-for-7 from deep. David Adelman said after the game that the team didn’t know his status but would find out in the coming days.
There was still a strong showing from Trevon Brazile, who kept making a case for a rotation spot. The second-round big was active on both ends and turned in the most impressive performance of the night for Denver, finishing with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three, in 25 minutes.
Denver came out flying in the first quarter, grabbing an 18-6 lead behind Jamal Murray’s burst. Murray scored 9 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the period, including three layups and a step-back three.
The Nuggets stretched the margin to 21-6 before Nikola Jokic picked up a third foul, and that seemed to swing the energy. The Clippers answered with a 13-1 run, and Denver also hurt itself at the line, going 3-of-9 on free throws in the quarter.
The second quarter was a tale of two stretches. Denver’s reserve group of Tyus Jones, Strawther, Brazile, Cam Whitmore, and Marvin Bagley III controlled the first 4:28 and pushed the Nuggets ahead 38-36, with Strawther burying three triples.
Once the starters returned after the 7:32 timeout, Denver briefly moved back in front 42-36 on a Jokic layup set up by Aaron Gordon’s fourth offensive rebound of the half and then a Murray step-back. But the offense went cold from there, and the Clippers ripped off 20 points to Denver’s 6 to close the half up 58-55.
The trouble deepened in the third. Denver opened with Bagley, Brazile, Strawther, Whitmore, and Tyus Jones, and that group stayed within one at 68-67 after a Cam Whitmore and-one with 8:25 left.
Then the Clippers took control with a 19-4 run, helped by Denver’s turnover issues - eight in the quarter alone. Brazile was the bright spot.
He scored 14 points in the period on 5-of-6 shooting, hit 2-of-3 from three, and even added back-to-back transition dunks off steals. Ryan Nembhard also chipped in with two steals and two assists, both to Brazile.
Whitmore scored 7 on 3-of-6 shooting, though he left points at the line by missing two free throws that would have cut the gap to two.
Denver did win the fourth quarter 29-26, but the game never got truly tight again. A lineup filled entirely with reserves and camp invites made one push, getting within 104-97 on a Whitmore step-back three, a Holmes reverse layup, a Hopkins and-one, and a Whitmore dunk.
The Clippers answered, however, and Martinelli later scored six straight points to stretch the margin back out. DaRon Holmes was the only Nugget who could really make noise once Denver emptied the bench.
For the night, the story was Strawther’s injury and Brazile’s standout work. Strawther’s preseason line now sits at 13.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 18.5 minutes, while shooting 46% from the field, 43.5% from three on nearly six attempts a game, and 83% from the line. Brazile, meanwhile, gave Denver a glimpse of what he could bring if this preseason keeps opening doors.
In Other News...
Nuggets Bench Battle Just Created A Tough Rotation Decision
Michael Malone is using the preseason to sort out Denvers second unit, and the shape of that group may matter more than usual if he sticks with a 10-man rotation that keeps the starters and bench units largely separate. Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III, DeMar DeRozan and Spencer Jones have already carved out clear roles, which leaves the Nuggets with one last spot to settle before the regular season begins.
Alpha Diallo and Julian Strawther have both made a case for themselves, and for different reasons. Diallo has brought defensive value, while Strawther has stood out with his three-point shooting, leaving Malone with a classic roster-choice dilemma: whether to lean into defense, shooting, or the broader fit of each player once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Braun Is Putting A Real Nuggets Rotation Decision On The Table
Christian Brauns preseason has created an uncomfortable little subplot for Denver, because the young wing who looked like a fixture in the rotation has not played like one so far. His scoring has dipped, his shooting has been off, and the defensive edge that usually helps him stay on the floor has not shown up with the same consistency, which is a problem for a team that wants clarity around its second unit and closing groups before the games start to matter.
At the same time, Julian Strawther has given the Nuggets a more productive look on offense, while Alpha Diallo has made a stronger case on the other end of the floor. If Braun carries this form into the regular season, Denver may have to make a real rotation call sooner rather than later, whether that means trimming his minutes or rethinking the starting five around him. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found A New Edge Teams Wont Enjoy Facing
The Nuggets have spent part of the preseason finding a way to put opponents in a bind, and it has shown up at the line. Against the Bulls and Jazz, Denver got to the free-throw stripe at a noticeably higher rate, a reflection of a roster that leans into size and contact and one that is already making life uncomfortable for defenses trying to keep up.
David Adelman said the teams physical approach is a big reason for the trend, but the next step is turning those trips into more efficient points. Denver still has room to sharpen its foul shooting, especially from the bench, even as rookie Bryce Hopkins has added another layer with his willingness to play through contact and draw whistles. [Read more 🡒]