While the Denver Nuggets took a tough 96-84 loss on the chin like a right hook from the Oklahoma City Thunder in what was a surprising defensive battle, there were still some encouraging signs that came out of the game. The defense actually looked good for the first time in a while. But what may have looked even better than the defense was the non-Nikola Jokic minutes. The revamped Nuggets bench was one of the surprises of the night, and they're definitely on course to be a major improvement over last season.
This loss was squarely on the starters, namely Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who played atrociously all game long. Which seems shocking to say. But it's true. Jokic, who's always near the top of the plus/minus leaders, was a terrible -20, as was Christian Braun, while Murray was -15.
But the bench unit held its own against one of the best benches in the entire NBA. And if they can keep up the encouraging play for the remainder of the season, then all signs point upward for the Nuggets, because we all know Jokic and Murray will eventually turn it around.
The new look bench is much better all around than last year
The Nuggets bench actually won the non-Jokic minutes, going +8. Even if you remove the 5-0 run in the last two minutes of garbage time, they were still +3. Marvin Bagley III was tough in the paint over his 11 minutes spelling Jokic, while Alpha Diallo provided his excellent defense on the perimeter by fighting through screens and stopping the Thunder before they could get a clean run into the paint.
Rookie second-round pick Trevon Brazile continued to impress while filling in for Spencer Jones, who missed the game while he's still recovering from a hamstring injury that's kept him off the floor since the start of the preseason. Brazile looked like the most athletic Nugget player on the floor in his NBA debut, skying for 12 rebounds in 18 minutes, including 3 on the offensive end.
DeMar DeRozan filled in for the injured Cameron Johnson for a good chunk of minutes during the second half, but he impressed with his mid-range game and shot 5-for-9 for 13 points while playing 28 minutes in his Nuggets debut.
There's still a small cause for concern on the second unit
As good as the bench unit looked, outscoring the Thunder 33-31, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Tyus Jones had no assists, just two points, one steal, and never looked comfortable against the Thunder's stingy defense. And DeRozan had 5 turnovers while he still looked to be adjusting to playing in a new bench role with new teammates.
But beating the Thunder on non-Jokic minutes has to be taken as an encouraging sign. It's not like they debuted against the Sacramento Kings' second unit. The Thunder's bench is loaded. The key will be keeping that momentum up as the season progresses. Because most nights, the game won't be lost by the starters, and it'll land on the non-Jokic minutes' shoulders to keep a lead. This bench unit looks up to that task.
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