There’s only one opportunity for a first impression, and the Denver Nuggets impressed the heck out of their fans tonight.
The Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns in a 133-11 blowout in their 2025-26 home opener. It was an impressive showcase from a variety of Nuggets for what the fans can expect this season.
It was also, quite literally, a show.
Aaron Gordon put together a 360 Alley-Oop dunk off one of Nikola Jokic’s 15 assists. Peyton Watson threw down a poster dunk with aggression. Jamal Murray displayed the silky smooth moves and shooting touch fans have grown to love. Christian Braun charged down the floor in transition at high speed.
AARON GORDON 360 SLAM 😱
NUGGETS LEAD AT THE BREAK.
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📲 https://t.co/7Dn4QFI6Ue pic.twitter.com/HN8s6lRcla— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2025
Cam Johnson put together a solid performance with 15 points and four rebounds, showing some growth on two-man actions with Jokic throughout the night.
Jonas Valanciunas wasn’t highly efficient from the field, but he was highly effective as the focal point of the bench offense next to Murray. His size and physicality stabilized things for Denver, and there’s room for growth.
Tim Hardaway Jr. didn’t have an efficient night, but Nuggets fans knew they could expect him to get up quick three-pointers when he’s open, and there will be a game he changes in the future.
But the crowd got very excited for Bruce Brown to be back in the building. A loud “YeeHaw!” from Nuggets PA announcer Kyle Speller can be heard whenever Brown makes a big play, much to the delight of Nuggets faithful. Brown stuffed the stat sheet tonight with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block.
Denver welcomes Bruce Brown back. pic.twitter.com/ewDZAv9t7j
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) October 26, 2025
It was all in the flow of an impressive Nuggets win. The Suns made the occasional run, and there are things for the Nuggets to clean up on both sides of the ball.
But if this was the Nuggets’ first impression of the 2025-26 season, there’s going to be a lot of fun home games.
For the longest time tonight, Nikola Jokic had zero shot attempts. He ultimately found more opportunities to force the issue later in the game, but he was comfortable taking what the Suns defense gave to him and playing the role of facilitator.
Tonight, that was 14 points, 14 rebounds, 15 assists, and 3 steals, good for +27 in his 32 minutes.
“That’s how they guard us,” Adelman declared of Jokic’s low number of shot attempts. “The more weapons you have when people guard us like that, he doesn’t have to try to go through three bodies to keep us in a game. It’s just make the right play.”
“We have the best playmaker in the world, and I don’t think he shot for a whole half,” Jamal Murray also intoned postgame. “He just had 15 assists like it was nothing. That’s how we play — we’re super unselfish, and it’s fun to see everybody kind of get in on the action.”
Nikola Jokic is the best defender and passer in the game. People on Twitter are complaining bc he isn’t scoring. pic.twitter.com/ev4pn9ob2Z
— Gino Fornaro (@ginoliciousboss) October 26, 2025
Where Jokic had a passive night, Murray was active, especially with the second unit. He had 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists in his 32 minutes, playing some of the best early season basketball of his career.
He’s also very aware of the narratives that he starts seasons slow.
“That’s why I want to come out and just have a good November, October — whatever it is.”
For the Nuggets, it was pretty scary how easy things were for them to score tonight. Perhaps the Suns defense isn’t very good, but the Nuggets scored 133 points while making just 9-of-31 three-pointers. They didn’t even shoot well and put up an impressive total. That may be a common occurrence this year.
“We’re still in that early stage of figuring out everything, which is a plus because we’re pretty damn good,” Murray declared.
Then, Murray made it even more crystal clear:
“Everybody’s realizing the squad that we have and we’re trying to make the most of it. Everybody’s locked in — win or lose — everybody’s trying to improve and build with intent.”
The team believes they have what it takes to do something special this season. If they keep playing like this, everyone else will start believing too.