Denver's Passing Opens Against the Defense That Ended Two of Its Seasons
Nothing moved overnight, so tonight in Oklahoma City is a clean test of whether the league's best offense last season can still find the open man against the defense that has twice sent Denver home.
The Nuggets start the 2026-27 season tonight at the Thunder on ESPN, and nothing has changed with the roster or injuries in the last day and a half. Spencer Jones has a hamstring listing with an estimated return date of today, and Julian Strawther is not expected back before November 29.
A quiet day before a hard night
There is no new transaction and no new injury to report. Denver has had five days off since beating the Lakers 121-106 on October 16 to close the preseason. Oklahoma City is already 1-0 and plays tonight on one day of rest. The Nuggets have the fresher legs. The Thunder have already played a game that counts.
The number that frames it
Denver scored 121.2 points per 100 possessions last season. Oklahoma City allowed 106.5, went 64-18 and finished with an 11.1 net rating. Jokic averaged 10.7 assists and Murray 7.1, and Denver's offense depends on the next pass after those. The Thunder's defense is built to take that next pass away. Oweh, Topic and Sorber are out, but none of Oklahoma City's six most-used players from last season is on its injury list.
Who handles the connecting work?
Denver's best five-man group last season was Jokic, Murray, Johnson, Watson and Jones. It was +20.1 over 171 minutes. Watson is not on this year's roster, so that exact group cannot be put back together. Nugg Love's David Decker has suggested that Adelman use Aaron Gordon as a point forward against Oklahoma City and try Alpha Diallo on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 31.1 points last season. Both ideas say the same thing: the extra passing and defending have to come from someone other than the two stars.
The open question
Is Jones available? Last season he played 22.1 minutes a night and shot 39.6 percent from three. He is the kind of connector who makes a strong group work. If he can't go, Adelman has to spread those minutes around in a game that matters, with the Pelicans coming to Denver on October 24.
When and where do the Nuggets open the 2026-27 season?
Denver opens tonight, October 22, at the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the game is on ESPN. The first home game is October 24 against the Pelicans.
Will Spencer Jones play against the Thunder?
Jones is listed with a hamstring injury, and his estimated return date is October 22, the day of the game. Nothing else about his status has been reported.
