Ten Minutes Won't Tell Denver Much About Its Starters
Saturday's loss to Utah left Denver's starting five barely tested, and the only real second look comes fast, in a rematch two days later.
Denver opened preseason with a 97-109 loss to Utah, a game in which Aaron Gordon played just 10 minutes and the bench outscored the starters 55-37. The next chance to see the starting group hold the floor together comes Tuesday, October 6, in an immediate rematch at Utah.
What Ten Minutes Shows
Gordon scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting with three makes from the line in Saturday's loss, then sat the rest of the way after just 10 minutes. His standing has carried no real update since it first changed on September 13, and a short opening-night run reads as more of the same caution rather than a finished answer.
The Rest of the Starters Didn't Get Much Longer
Tyus Jones played 19 minutes with six assists, Cameron Johnson 15 with two of six shooting from three, Christian Braun 15 and a team-worst minus-13. None of them shared the floor long enough on opening night to say much about how they fit, and the reserves, not that group, closed the fourth quarter.
Fifty-Five Bench Points
Denver's bench outscored its starters 55-37, with Julian Strawther's 14 off the bench the game high and Marvin Bagley III the lone plus performer at plus-4 in 14 minutes. That split is ordinary for an exhibition built around reserve minutes, but it leaves the starting group's actual chemistry an open question.
A Fast Second Chance
Denver gets an immediate rematch at Utah on Tuesday, October 6, the only other game on this week's schedule before preseason trips to face the Bulls, Clippers and Lakers. Spencer Jones and Jamal Murray are both targeting that same date to return from their respective issues; if both are back, Tuesday offers the first real look at Denver's intended group sharing the floor for more than ten minutes.
How many minutes did Aaron Gordon play in the preseason opener?
Gordon played 10 minutes in Denver's 97-109 loss to Utah, scoring 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting with three made free throws.
When do the Nuggets play the Jazz again?
Denver faces Utah again on Tuesday, October 6, the only other game on this week's schedule before preseason trips to face the Bulls, Clippers and Lakers.
