Entering the 2025-26 season, the Denver Nuggets' bench looked poised to help them contend for the championship. Two games into the playoffs, though, the team appears to be relying too much on the starters. That isn't exactly a recipe for success if it wants to make a deep postseason run.
It's too early to panic, even if the Nuggets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of their series. What's concerning is how they lost — the offense went missing, particularly late in the game.
Nuggets coach David Adelman admitted that his wards were already spent in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 29-21. They ultimately lost 119-114, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray shot a combined 2-12 from the field in the final frame. The pair each ended up breaking the 40-minute mark, as Adelman ran what was basically a seven-man rotation.
Can the second unit step up?
Hopefully, Denver's bench platoon can vindicate itself for the rest of the series. On paper, the squad should have one of the deepest rosters in the league.
Unfortunately, Peyton Watson cannot escape the injured list, as his left hamstring strain has continued to be an issue. The two-way force would have been a key contributor on both ends of the floor. However, the outlook for his return in the series doesn't look too bright.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has done his best to keep Denver's offense afloat, scoring 16 in Game 2 and being one of only three Nuggets who finished with a positive plus/minus (+4). Jokic (+1) and Christian Braun (+4) were the other two.
Bruce Brown did put up seven points on Monday, but it was a far cry from his impressive outing in Game 1 when he filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
The most disappointing reserve was arguably Jonas Valanciunas. He couldn't provide the Nuggets with a strong case to play more than three minutes. There was plenty of excitement when the franchise acquired him in the offseason, even if it came with some EuroLeague drama. Fast forward to today, Valanciunas has yet to show he is capable of more playing time against an opponent featuring traditional bigs.
Denver should still be favored to advance
The Nuggets faithful shouldn't fret, though. As formidable a foe as Minnesota may be, the No. 3 seed still has a major advantage in the series, including its championship pedigree.
The defense has also been sturdy so far, despite looking frail in the regular season. As Adelman snarkily noted to refute Wolves swingman Jaden McDaniels' disrespectful comments about Denver's defense, his club currently has the sixth-best defense in the playoffs.
But if the Nuggets can't find a way to reduce their stars' workload, it might spell bad news for their hopes of reaching the Finals. Their looming depth problem could become harder to hide if Jokic and Murray become too fatigued by the time the Western Conference semifinals start. Of course, they have to make it there first.
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