gazette
The Denver Nuggets claimed their first win of the preseason on Tuesday night, defeating the Utah Jazz 117-106 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. After a shaky start, the starters found their rhythm in the second quarter and never looked back.
Braun and Gordon Show Promise
Christian Braun appears to have regained his explosiveness and is playing with the high energy his role demands. He threw down a transition dunk on Sunday and dove for a loose ball that led to a Trevon Brazile dunk. On Tuesday, Braun remained aggressive as a shooter, though he made just 1 of 4 from beyond the arc, and contributed four rebounds (one offensive) in 14 minutes.
Aaron Gordon also seems to be enjoying himself on the court. He fired up the crowd at the CU Events Center after a dunk on Sunday, an unusual display for a preseason game. In the first half on Tuesday, Gordon had more fun, wrapping the ball around his body with his right hand and driving to the rim. Even a missed layup couldn't wipe the smile off his face. His spin move in the post for a strong two-handed dunk was another encouraging sign. Denver's two defensive difference-makers look healthy and happy, which is crucial for a successful season.
Jazz Pose Future Threat
The Jazz will give the Nuggets problems sooner rather than later. Utah's starting frontcourt trio of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic is massive and balanced. Starting guards Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson look like a couple of young stars. The bench also features promising young players in Ace Bailey Jr. and Isaiah Collier, who appear poised to become consistent contributors.
Tension between the teams was evident. Nikola Jokic picked up a technical foul after growing frustrated with Utah's strategy of using a smaller player to pester him. There was another brief dustup in the third quarter and no shortage of physical preseason fouls. The days of Utah tanking are over, and the Northwest Division remains the Western Conference's toughest.
New Broadcast Team Debuts
For those who attended Sunday's preseason opener in Boulder, it was the first chance to experience Altitude Sports' new broadcast duo: Noah Reed on play-by-play and Katy Winge elevated to full-time color analyst. The broadcast is certainly different—fewer jokes and signature calls—but those elements come with comfort and familiarity that take time to develop. Forcing them too early would likely make for a rough listen. It didn't help that the new duo was doing a remote broadcast on Tuesday, while another new addition, Lauren Gardner, was in Salt Lake City. It will take a long time to get used to not hearing Chris Marlowe and Scott Hastings banter on the broadcast, but the new crew shows promise and has plenty of time to form its own identity.
Game Recap
Final Score: Nuggets 117, Jazz 106
What Happened: The Nuggets led 61-56 at halftime and held off the Jazz late to secure their first preseason win. The starters and DeMar DeRozan rested during the second half.
What Went Right: Julian Strawther built on his strong start to the preseason. After scoring a team-high 14 points in the opener, the fourth-year guard went 3 for 4 from 3-point range and led Denver's reserves with 15 points. He added four rebounds and three assists.
What Went Wrong: The Nuggets didn't get to see how their starting five matched up with Utah's. After Jamal Murray missed Sunday when the Jazz started their regular five, Utah didn't have Lauri Markkanen or Jusuf Nurkic on Tuesday.
Highlight of the Night: Cam Whitmore showed the athleticism that had David Adelman saying he could play safety for the Broncos in the final minutes. Whitmore cut baseline, caught a pass from DaRon Holmes II, and threw down a two-handed slam with his eyes level with the rim.
Up Next: The Nuggets play their only preseason game at Ball Arena at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Bulls.
Originally reported by gazette.