Chicago Arrives Shorthanded and Tired; Denver Arrives Rested
Six Bulls rotation pieces are day-to-day and Chicago is on one day of rest, while Denver gets its spot back from Spencer Jones on four days off before tomorrow's preseason game.
Denver split its last two preseason games, falling to the Jazz 97-109 before winning at Utah 117-106, and now prepares to host a Chicago team playing its third game in seven days on one night of rest. Spencer Jones, tagged day-to-day with a hamstring injury on October 2, carries an estimated return date of October 11.
Who Chicago Is Without
Tiago Splitter's Bulls are 0-0 this season and were 31-51 last season, with a scoring margin of -5.3 and a pace of 103.2, the fastest number in tomorrow's matchup. Six rotation players carry a day-to-day tag: Matas Buzelis (ankle), Tre Jones (hip), Jaylin Sellers (back), Jalen Smith (foot), Zach Collins (toe) and Nic Claxton (hamstring). Josh Giddey and Norman Powell, who led the team in scoring last season at 17.0 and 21.7 points, are not on that list.
Denver's Easier Week
The Nuggets enter on four days of rest after playing just once in the previous seven, compared with two games in seven days for Chicago, which is also on the road for a second straight night. Jamal Murray's personal absence was cleared by October 6, the same day Denver beat Utah to even its preseason record.
A Lineup Piece Comes Back
Spencer Jones was flagged day-to-day with a hamstring injury on October 2, with an estimated return of October 11, when Denver hosts Chicago. His absence had already pushed his minutes up in each of the last three games; getting him back against a Bulls team missing six rotation pieces is as clean a test as preseason offers.
What Doesn't Carry Over
Chicago's pace last season, 103.2 possessions per 48 minutes, ran well above Denver's 99.5, and the shorthanded roster Chicago brings on October 11 will not tell Denver much about facing a healthy one. Three more preseason games - at the Clippers, at the Lakers, and a longer wait to October 22 at Oklahoma City - separate this game from anything that counts.
Who is injured for the Bulls heading into the game against Denver?
Matas Buzelis, Tre Jones, Jaylin Sellers, Jalen Smith, Zach Collins and Nic Claxton are all day-to-day, though leading scorers Norman Powell and Josh Giddey are not on the injury list.
Is Spencer Jones playing against the Bulls?
His hamstring tag carries an estimated return date of October 11, the date of the Bulls game, after three games of increased bench minutes in his absence.
