The Denver Nuggets kicked off Summer League on Friday with various questions about their NBA roster, many open spots, and potential hold-ups with LeBron James, Peyton Watson, and even Spencer Jones in free agency.
But that didn’t matter as much when the Nuggets played their first Summer League game of 2026 in Las Vegas. It’s less about the stress and more about the fun. JJ Barea debuted as the Nuggets summer head coach against the Houston Rockets, and the group played hard in an entertaining matchup.
The Nuggets ended up losing 97-86 though. It’s difficult to win when shooting 4-of-22 from three, and the Nuggets struggled from distance across the board. That limited the team’s scoring upside, and the Rockets were able to capitalize with relentless driving to the basket and constantly drawing shooting foul calls.
Denver couldn’t avoid the turnovers either, giving up the ball 22 times. KJ Simpson was one of the Nuggets to struggle against the constant ball pressure, though he scored 17 points and also had nine of Denver’s 14 assists as a squad. Denver’s other starters combined for zero assists, something they will try to address before future games.
The biggest bright spot of the game by far was wing Bryce Hopkins, Denver’s 49th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Hopkins scored 24 points through physical drives, contorting layups, smooth turnaround jumpers, and getting to the free throw line. Hopkins also added three steals and two blocks to the mix, playing solid defense throughout the game.
Trevon Brazile, Denver’s 35th overall pick, had a slower start to summer league with just five points in 29 minutes, shooting 2-of-8 from the field. He did make his only three-point attempt, and the Nuggets would surely like to see him extend that range as he develops at the NBA level. Brazile’s wingspan and leaping ability also affected several shots by Rockets shooters on the perimeter.
Off the bench, DeJon Jarreau and Mark Mitchell had productive minutes. Backup point guard Mark Sears had the highest plus-minus on the team, utilizing his quickness on both ends of the floor to generate good shots while also drawing a charge.
The Nuggets didn’t play everyone on their summer roster with notables like TJ Bamba and Aaron Nkrumah not checking into the first contest. Expect the Nuggets to change up the rotations and subs around rostered players Brazile, Hopkins, and Simpson pretty frequently.
Overall, the Nuggets got their first minutes against competition outside of their own gym. They didn’t shoot it well but have a chance for redemption against the summer roster of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are led by 2025 first round center Joan Beringer. Let’s see how the Nuggets respond to the length and size of the T’Wolves.
