Mile High Tape · Morning

Denver's Five Starters Won in New Orleans. Phoenix Will Test the Rest

Denver's wire-to-wire win at New Orleans came almost entirely from the starters, and Friday in Phoenix asks whether help comes back in time.

By the Nuggets Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 29

Denver beat the Pelicans 104-91 on Wednesday without trailing once, and Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double of 21 points, 10 assists and 13 boards. The Nuggets are 2-2 and ninth in the West, and they play at Phoenix on Friday in the Emirates NBA Cup.

Nuggets Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

How did the lead hold?

Denver opened with a 37-18 first quarter and pushed the margin to 22. New Orleans never led and never tied. The cushion leaked twice. A 10-0 Pelicans run in the second quarter forced an Adelman timeout at 46-36, and a 9-0 burst late in the third cut the lead to 79-73. Denver took the fourth 25-18, and Christian Braun scored nine of those points.

Five players, one source

Jamal Murray, Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Braun and Trevon Brazile combined for 85 points, while the bench managed 19. Murray hit 5 of 11 beyond the arc for 23 points. Gordon shot 3 of 10 but still made 15 points and 11 rebounds by getting to the line eight times. Brazile, a rookie, added 11 points and eight rebounds. ESPN reported that Jokic's line was the 200th triple-double of his career.

The number is seven

Jokic also committed seven turnovers. The last was a bad pass with 33 seconds left, which Zion Williamson stole and Dejounte Murray finished with a dunk. Ten assists against seven giveaways is a center carrying too much of the creating because the floor around him lacks shooters he trusts.

Who comes back Friday?

Cameron Johnson (right ankle) and Alpha Diallo (personal) both have a projected return of October 30, the night of the Phoenix game. Spencer Jones's hamstring keeps him listed until November 2, and Julian Strawther's knee until November 29. In 2025-26, the group of Murray, Braun, Johnson, Gordon and Jokic posted a +13.5 net rating. If Johnson plays, does Adelman go back to that five, or keep Brazile, who was +14 in 32 minutes?

Is Cameron Johnson playing against the Suns?

Johnson is listed out with his right ankle, and his projected return date is October 30, the day Denver plays at Phoenix. No final decision has been announced.

When is the Nuggets' next game?

Denver plays at the Phoenix Suns on Friday, October 30, in the Emirates NBA Cup. It then hosts the Trail Blazers on November 2.

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.