Mile High Tape · Morning

Denver Opens at Home Without the Shooter Its Passing Needs

With Cameron Johnson out until Monday at the earliest, Denver's home opener asks Jokic and Murray to find spacing somewhere else.

By the Nuggets Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 24

Denver hosts 0-2 New Orleans tonight after an 84-96 loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday. Johnson and Spencer Jones are both out, and both are listed to return Monday against Golden State.

Nuggets Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What did the opener say about the five?

Last season the group of Gordon, Jokic, Murray, Johnson and Braun posted a +13.5 net rating. It never got a real look in Oklahoma City. Johnson played 11 minutes, went 2 of 3, and is now out with an ankle injury. Jokic shot 5 of 19 and finished minus-20. Murray shot 2 of 11, turned it over six times and finished minus-15.

Who spaces the floor now?

Johnson shot 43.0 percent from three last season. Braun shot 30.1, and he went 1 of 6 on Thursday. Nugg Love's Jordanna Clark argued that Denver cannot replace Johnson's shooting by leaning on Aaron Gordon, who went 3 of 4 from three in the opener. One good night does not settle that. The passing only works when the defense has to respect the player at the end of it.

Is New Orleans the right fix?

The Pelicans went 26-56 last season with a 117.6 defensive rating, and they are 0-2 now. Yves Missi is day-to-day with a knee injury. Denver arrives after five days off. DeRozan, off the bench, turned it over five times on Thursday, so the second unit's reads are part of the repair. Denver sees New Orleans again on Wednesday in the road game on October 28.

What is the open question?

Whether Jokic and Murray look like themselves before Johnson is back. Alpha Diallo is day-to-day and Julian Strawther is out until late November. The rotation is thin, so two good reads in a row would tell us more than a score.

When is Cameron Johnson expected back for the Nuggets?

He is listed out with a right ankle injury and is expected back October 26, when Denver hosts Golden State. Spencer Jones carries the same return date.

Who do the Nuggets play after the Pelicans?

Denver hosts the Warriors on October 26, then plays at New Orleans on October 28 and at Phoenix on October 30.

By the Nuggets Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.