Denver Nuggets’ momentum stalls in loss to Timberwolves in preseason opener | Vinny’s take
The vibes were high to start the Nuggets’ stay in San Diego, but things didn’t end that way.
Denver started its five-game preseason slate with a 126-116 loss to a shorthanded Timberwolves squad. Here are three takeaways from the Nuggets’ first preseason game:
1. There was a lot of excitement surrounding the Nuggets’ new-look starting five, but there’s still plenty of work to be done. The Nuggets started Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic, as expected, against a Timberwolves squad that was without Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Denver’s 3-point defense and turnovers were the primary issues to start.
Jokic, Gordon and Murray scored efficiently, but the group lacked chemistry. Jokic and Gordon led Denver with 14 points apiece, while Murray added 12. Johnson missed both of his 3s and scored two points with one assist and one block. It’s too early to be concerned, but some progress would be encouraging when the Nuggets play their second preseason game against the Raptors on Monday in Vancouver.
2. Coach David Adelman stuck with the same second unit he utilized throughout training camp — Bruce Brown, Julian Strawther, Tim Hardaway Jr., Peyton Watson and Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas’ size gave the Timberwolves problems to start, and the second unit started the second half with good energy with the regular starters done for the night.
Watson built on what was an encouraging training camp, finishing with 10 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown went a combined 1 of 6 from the field, while former Nuggets Bones Hyland came off the bench and led the Timberwolves with 18 points on eight field-goal attempts.
3. It was a pretty vanilla game plan from Adelman and the Nuggets, but there was at least one interesting decision displayed in the preseason opener: Two-way player Spencer Jones received playing time while DaRon Holmes II, Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson still had their warmups on.
Players and coaches have been very complimentary of Jones’s play in training camp, but two steals and a rebound were his only contributions in more than 10 minutes of playing time. Holmes, last year’s first-round pick, didn’t get off the bench until the final minutes and finished with five points, two assists and a rebound. Tyson added nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, while Nnaji added four points on six shots with two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Jones looks like the most likely player to fill Denver’s 15th and final roster spot after one preseason game.
