The Denver Nuggets dropped to 0-3 in preseason with a 118-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Nikola Jokic played 30 minutes and put up 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. He looked good overall. Michael Porter Jr. also looked good and added 21 points of his own, shooting an efficient 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from three.
But the story of the game was Denver’s poor perimeter defense. The Suns shot 23-of-50 from three-point range today and nearly doubled up Denver’s total three-point makes. The Nuggets shot just 12-of-36 from three themselves, and that disparity highlighted the uphill battle the Nuggets have from the math standpoint.
“We dominated the glass, we dominated the paint, but we got our ass kicked from three,” Michael Malone shared postgame. “Giving up 37 points in that third quarter was embarrassing. We’ve gotta be better.”
The Nuggets started what is expected to be their normal starting five today with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, and Jamal Murray each playing extended minutes. The Suns sat their starters on the other side, and a host of former Nuggets comprised the starting unit instead.
Monte Morris, Bol Bol, and Mason Plumlee all started and played significant minutes, and the Suns were initially raining down threes against the Nuggets. Eventually, Denver settled down and got things together for a while on the defensive end until the floodgates opened in the third quarter.
Denver’s three-point shooting still wasn’t great in that first half, shooting 7-of-21 from three. Still, the threat of the three-pointer is what mattered most in this one. The Nuggets shot 16-of-29 in the paint in the first half alone despite taking 21 threes. There were three total midrange shots, a very intriguing number for a team that relied heavily on the midrange last season.
Murray sat at halftime and was replaced by Russell Westbrook. The starters, Westbrook, and Strawther went long in the third quarter and got some valuable rotation minutes together. The energy level was high but the execution wasn’t awesome. Still, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. found a lot of scoring opportunities, especially with Russell Westbrook helping to set the table.
Denver’s defense dropped off in the third quarter. Their effort and execution had been really solid in the first half, but several threes and offensive rebounds from Suns reserves took Denver out of their defensive rhythm.
Ultimately, the Nuggets played their bench with Braun in place of Westbrook the entire fourth quarter and struggled to string together stops. Playing Braun and Strawther in the backcourt caused the Nuggets some struggles offensively, but it was a good look at Strawther running the point. The Suns chipped away and eventually took the lead back, and while Zeke Nnaji had some impressive plays, it wasn’t meant to be for Denver. The Suns simply shot too well from the perimeter.
Here are some extra takeaways:
Conditioning
Michael Malone wasn’t shy about discussing conditioning, saying the Nuggets still have a ways to go before they’re in shape for the NBA season.
Michael Malone also had some candid words about Denver’s conditioning at this stage.
“It looks like some guys are a little winded, a little tired out there.” pic.twitter.com/xXjHprHaL7
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) October 14, 2024
Malone also highlighted that he thought “some guys are a little winded, a little tired out there.” The starters in particular looked a bit gassed, and Murray didn’t play the second half. Michael Porter and Christian Braun look to be in great shape, so it’s easy to put two and two together on this one.
It also could be a byproduct of the travel to and from Abu Dhabi. Don’t be surprised if the Nuggets are behind other NBA teams in conditioning for that reason.
The Math Problem
Denver shot 36 threes tonight and made 12. Phoenix shot 50 threes and made 23. They outscored the Nuggets by 33 points at the three-point line tonight.
That’s something that will probably linger for much of the regular season. As big and strong as the Nuggets are in the paint and on the glass against most teams, they lack perimeter containment defensively and perimeter shooters offensively.
Michael Porter Jr. and Julian Strawther both spoke tonight about being shot ready, and Porter went even further to highlight his role as a floor spacer for the team.
“We know in this day and age, teams score a lot of points when they get some threes up,” Porter shared. “We don’t have any really volume three-point shooters.”
Porter is of course a floor spacer, and he may have to get up even more than before. The same is true for Strawther, who will be the Michael Porter of the second unit. He’s been great this season and feels very comfortable.
“It feels amazing, especially just knowing that I sacrificed my whole summer,” Strawther shared postgame. “Just to be in [Denver] and making sure I put myself into the best position to have success.”
Strawther had 21 points and four assists and looked very comfortable. His defense has to be better but it’s a work-in-progress. For the offense, Strawther looks ready to be a featured part of the team.
Final Rotations
