The Nuggets kicked off their preseason campaign with a loss, falling 109-97 to the Jazz. The result, however, took a back seat, as Denver’s main priority was to ensure its key players were healthy, test out lineups, and begin building chemistry ahead of the new season.
Julian Strother led the Nuggets in scoring with 14 points, while Aaron Gordon added 12. Nikola Jokić took very few shots but once again served as the playmaker, dishing out 7 assists. Jamal Murray did not play for personal reasons, though he was on the bench, with Tyus Jones taking on a larger role in running the offense and finishing with 6 assists.
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The Jazz took control early on and closed out the first quarter at 36-26, maintaining their lead until halftime, when they were ahead 63-52. Denver’s starters did not play in the second half, giving way to younger players and bench players, with the Nuggets trying to close the gap through energy and three-point shooting.
Strother had some strong moments in the third quarter, while Cam Whitmore found his rhythm from the perimeter. Trevon Brazil also brought energy on both ends of the court, but the Jazz remained more consistent and closed out the third quarter ahead 88-77. In the fourth quarter, Denver continued to rely on players from the depths of their roster, without ever really getting back into contention for the win.
The final score of 109-97 left the Nuggets with more positive takeaways than cause for concern. The starters looked in good form, Jokić smoothly found his rhythm, and several bench players got valuable minutes in a first test that was more about evaluation than the result.
*photo source: AP
