Three takeaways from the Nuggets’ 2025-26 preseason opener, a 126-116 loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday night in San Diego.
An active Jamal Murray
Denver’s starters changed out of their uniforms at halftime, their chemistry work to be continued Monday in Vancouver at the second preseason game. They got off to a slow start together, mostly at the defensive end with lackluster perimeter containment. (The Wolves didn’t have Anthony Edwards or Julius Randle available, but scored 70 first-half points anyway.)
Murray did his best to be a tone-setter, though, contributing a handful of stops and looking spry at both ends. The 28-year-old point guard tipped off his preseason with 12 points, five assists, one rebound, one block and two turnovers. He was the only starter whose plus-minus broke even.
Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon scored 14 points each. All three mainstays got to the foul line at least five times. Cam Johnson scored only one bucket in his debut, but it was a demonstration of the fluid off-ball movement that should make him a solid fit: feeding Jokic, then cutting around a back-screen from Christian Braun for a layup. Denver should want to get him more involved Monday.
Jonas Valanciunas lends an identity
David Adelman played a full-bench lineup to start the second quarter, consisting of the same five players who served as the second unit most of this last week at training camp: Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson and Valanciunas.
The group was at its best when it played through the big man. Valanciunas showed off some beautiful touch with a pair of difficult post-up finishes — a baby hook over Joan Beringer late in the shot clock and a 10-foot turnaround fader on the baseline.
Denver’s new backup center also flashed his play-making chops from the spots usually inhabited by Jokic. His size at the top of the key gave Watson the space to drive for a tough lefty layup after receiving a dribble handoff. And a few possessions later, Valanciunas faked a DHO to Strawther, then found him as a cutter with a water polo-style pass.
One issue with Valanciunas could be his propensity for fouling, even if his role is somewhat limited. He got whistled for five in 13 minutes Saturday. Still, he and Watson were generally the bright spots on the bench.
Same old, same old
In the first preseason game, sloppiness is to be expected. But the Nuggets do have some familiar wrinkles to iron out. If Michael Malone was watching on Saturday, his face might’ve been going red.
Minnesota dominated the offensive glass. Denver wasn’t able to create a second chance until the fourth quarter, when Jalen Pickett, Daron Holmes II and Zeke Nnaji were trying to engineer a comeback with hustle. Team defense still appears disorganized, despite standout individual moments and performances. And Minnesota’s ball pressure still created problems. The Nuggets committed 15 turnovers, and their initiators often looked uncomfortable shaking off the athletically dynamic Timberwolves. Backup point guard minutes should be interesting to watch as the season nears.