**ESPN:** [recap](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401474851) – [boxscore](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401474851) – [gamecast](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401474851) | **NBA.com:** [boxscore](https://www.nba.com/game/0012200011) – [shotchart](https://www.nba.com/game/0012200011/game-charts)
||**Q1**|**Q2**|**Q3**|**Q4**|**Final**||
|:—|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
**OKC**|**30**|**21**|**39**|**22**|**112**|[](/OKC)|
**DEN**|**21**|**31**|**30**|**19**|**101**|[](/DEN)|
**Team**|**FG**|**3PT**|**FT**|**OR**|**Reb**|**Ast**|**TO**|**Stl**|**Blk**|**PF**|**Pts**|
|:—|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|
[](/OKC)**OKC**|**41-84 (48.8)**|**13-35 (37.1)**|**17-25 (68.0)**|**13**|**52**|**25**|**21**|**9**|**6**|**23**|**112**|
[](/DEN)**DEN**|**37-90 (41.1)**|**10-33 (30.3)**|**17-23 (73.9)**|**11**|**43**|**20**|**17**|**8**|**6**|**18**|**101**|
**[](/DEN)DEN**|**Min**|**FG**|**3PT**|**FT**|**OR**|**Reb**|**Ast**|**TO**|**Stl**|**Blk**|**PF**|**Pts**|**+/-**|
|:—|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|
M. Porter Jr.^^SF|14:04|5-7 (71.4)|2-4 (50.0)|0-0 (0.0)|1|1|1|1|0|0|2|12|-2|
A. Gordon^^PF|14:33|4-6 (66.7)|1-1 (100.0)|1-1 (100.0)|1|4|1|0|1|0|0|10|+4|
N. Jokic^^C|15:16|0-1 (0.0)|0-1 (0.0)|2-2 (100.0)|0|5|3|3|2|0|0|2|+3|
K. Caldwell-Pope^^SG|14:37|1-8 (12.5)|0-4 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|1|1|0|1|1|0|0|2|0|
J. Murray^^PG|14:33|4-7 (57.1)|2-3 (66.7)|0-1 (0.0)|1|2|2|2|0|0|1|10|+4|
B. Hyland|13:56|2-7 (28.6)|0-2 (0.0)|2-3 (66.7)|0|3|2|2|1|0|1|6|-11|
J. Green|17:29|4-7 (57.1)|1-4 (25.0)|2-2 (100.0)|0|3|3|1|0|2|2|11|-9|
B. Brown|18:45|2-5 (40.0)|2-3 (66.7)|1-2 (50.0)|0|3|0|0|0|0|2|7|-4|
D. Jordan|15:27|4-6 (66.7)|0-0 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|2|6|1|2|0|1|1|8|-7|
D. Reed|16:34|1-4 (25.0)|1-3 (33.3)|0-0 (0.0)|0|2|2|1|0|0|1|3|-6|
I. Smith|20:10|3-7 (42.9)|0-0 (0.0)|1-2 (50.0)|0|1|1|1|0|1|2|7|-1|
Z. Nnaji|17:17|6-11 (54.5)|1-3 (33.3)|2-2 (100.0)|5|6|0|0|0|0|2|15|-7|
C. Braun|16:10|0-6 (0.0)|0-2 (0.0)|3-4 (75.0)|0|2|0|0|0|0|2|3|-8|
V. Cancar|15:58|0-5 (0.0)|0-3 (0.0)|3-4 (75.0)|0|2|2|2|1|0|1|3|-6|
P. Watson|15:11|1-3 (33.3)|0-0 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|2|2|1|2|2|1|2|-5|
**Totals**||**37-90 (41.1)**|**10-33 (30.3)**|**17-23 (73.9)**|**11**|**43**|**20**|**17**|**8**|**6**|**18**|**101**||
**DNP:** ***Adonis Arms***, ***Grant Golden***, ***Kellan Grady***, ***Jack White***
**Inactive:** ***Collin Gillespie***
**[](/OKC)OKC**|**Min**|**FG**|**3PT**|**FT**|**OR**|**Reb**|**Ast**|**TO**|**Stl**|**Blk**|**PF**|**Pts**|**+/-**|
|:—|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|
K. Williams^^SF|17:05|4-7 (57.1)|0-3 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|2|3|2|0|0|0|4|8|0|
A. Pokusevski^^PF|20:40|2-4 (50.0)|1-2 (50.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|6|2|3|1|1|2|5|+6|
J. Robinson-Earl^^C|20:41|4-9 (44.4)|0-4 (0.0)|3-4 (75.0)|2|3|0|0|0|0|2|11|+5|
T. Mann^^SG|22:56|6-11 (54.5)|3-6 (50.0)|2-2 (100.0)|0|0|2|1|1|1|2|17|+2|
J. Giddey^^PG|25:15|6-11 (54.5)|2-2 (100.0)|0-0 (0.0)|2|12|9|4|2|1|3|14|-6|
J. Williams|25:57|4-8 (50.0)|0-2 (0.0)|2-4 (50.0)|0|1|5|5|1|0|3|10|+15|
A. Wiggins|20:16|5-8 (62.5)|4-4 (100.0)|1-1 (100.0)|3|3|1|2|2|0|0|15|+10|
D. Bazley|18:48|3-9 (33.3)|0-3 (0.0)|2-5 (40.0)|2|8|2|2|0|1|1|8|+8|
O. Dieng|22:19|1-6 (16.7)|1-5 (20.0)|2-2 (100.0)|0|5|0|2|0|1|1|5|+7|
L. Waters III|15:04|3-4 (75.0)|2-3 (66.7)|0-1 (0.0)|0|4|0|0|0|0|2|8|+7|
E. Omoruyi|7:46|2-3 (66.7)|0-1 (0.0)|1-1 (100.0)|0|0|0|1|1|0|1|5|-3|
J. Williams|13:01|1-2 (50.0)|0-0 (0.0)|1-2 (50.0)|1|5|2|1|1|0|2|3|+6|
D. Nwaba|7:35|0-2 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|3-3 (100.0)|1|2|0|0|0|0|0|3|-2|
S. Killeya-Jones|2:36|0-0 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|0|0|0|0|1|0|0|0|
**Totals**||**41-84 (48.8)**|**13-35 (37.1)**|**17-25 (68.0)**|**13**|**52**|**25**|**21**|**9**|**6**|**23**|**112**||
**DNP:**
**Inactive:** ***Trey Burke***, ***Marquese Chriss***, ***Luguentz Dort***, ***Shai Gilgeous-Alexander***, ***Chet Holmgren***, ***Mike Muscala***
||**PITP**|**2^^nd PTS**|**FB PTS**|**BIG LD**|**BEN PTS**|**TOT TOV**|**TOV PTS**||
|:—|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
**OKC**|50|13|13|15|57|21|17|[](/OKC)|
**DEN**|42|12|16|5|65|17|17|[](/DEN)|
**Lead Changes: 9** | **Times Tied: 8** | **Gametime: 2:12** | **Attendance: 12432**
*Officials: Tre Maddox, Brett Nansel, J.T. Orr*
by BigHoneyBot
33 Comments
##BHB’s Game Thread Stats
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>[TheOrthodoxPolock](/r/denvernuggets/comments/xuzlyf/game_thread_nuggets_00_vs_thunder_00_oct_3_2022/iqys7tt/)
>>Oh my goodness, I’ve spent a lot of money tryna find the perfect high but all this time it was a clutch, off the glass shot by Jamal Murray to close the first half in a preseason game.
**Busiest Bee:** n0t_malstroem w/ 52 Posts
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No starters in the final quarter. This ones on malone.
This feels like a win.
Something something Will Barton SMH
Murray’s smile after he made his first 3 said everything that needed to be said about tonight, not just for him but the team. Was great to see, can’t wait for the next game and every one after that until this team lifts the trophy.
OKC is going to win the West
I’ve gotta say it.. this L was all Will Barton’s fault
Fire Malone
Jamal hitting that buzzer beater was a microcosm of the season to come. MPJ made his contested shots, that’s the MPJ we know. All looks good. Except someone posted a picture of Jokic with a wrap on his wrist… i’m sure it’s fine though. gg !
Malone blows another one with no starters in the fourth. Smh
I can’t stand all this losing. I might have to take a break from watching the Nuggets.
DeAndre Jordan scored 8 points Jokic scored 2 points. If Malone doesn’t start DJ then it’s time for him to be canned.
So good to have nuggets basketball back
Thunder only have guys who are either really good or really fucking bad at 3 point shooting. No in-between
Honestly minus Braun and a ton of missed shots from KCP I think our guys looked good. Malone obviously wanted to put our new guys out there.
That first 3 from Murray had me ALL smiles man!
Fun game. Go Nuggets!!
It’s sad watching Vlatko be a FIBA merchant
I can tell the game was an exhibition because Jokic only took one shot.
Starters will be great.
Peyton Watson is ready defensively to be a good player on that end *right now*. If he just achieves like, a bit of his potential offensively, he’s a rotation player. If he achieves ALL of his potential on both ends, he could legit be an All NBA player (dont believe me? How many forwards are there who are elite defenders at 6’8, can handle, pass, and shoot and get to the rim? Not many! Pascal Siakam comes to mind and he’s been an All NBA player – I’m not saying Watson will get there, but I’m saying he’s got the raw talent that if he works hard and we develop him well, maybe he could!).
Braun’s defense was fine enough. He’s as streaky as advertised.
Oh also, Zeke and Vlatko were both tremendous. I maintain my position – the bench unit should be Bones-Brown-Vlatko-Jeff-Zeke/DJ (depending on matchup). Vlatko’s passing and size would help them a lot more than Davon.
Zeke Nnaji out there looking like a new man. I love the grit he had. Maybe this happens all year?!
good televised practice and conditioning, hopefully jokics wrist is ok. MPJ and Jamal looked better than i expected. good stuff
My Best and worst 3 of the night:
Best:
Jamal Murray
Dude looked fantastic, he’s back, obviously. Nothing else really to say, hitting shots, moving fluidly
MPJ
He’s still a walking bucket, he looks healthy, is moving well, had a few mental lapses on defense but dude hasn’t played pro basketball in a year so that’s whatever.
Zeke nnaji
by far the best player on the court tonight, rebounded well, was consistent finishing around the rim, was clearly the best player on that 3rd unit. Malone would be insane not to play him this season, preseason or not, Zeke looks strong and focused and ready for a bigger role.
Worst 3:
Christian Braun
Had a case of the yips, I’m sure he’ll be fine, looked great on defense but was blowing every single layup and 3. If he stays confident he’ll be ok, probably not ready for a role this year
Bones Hyland
Didn’t look like his head was in the game, don’t care if it’s preseason, you gotta show up, he missed some open teammates, notably Bruce brown on his last play of the night, and seemed to hang his head when he made a mistake. I’m not at all concerned about bones, but this was not a good game from him.
Defensive rebounding as a whole team
This team is way way way too talented to be giving up that many rebounds, saw tons of ball watching, from the starters all the way to the end of the bench, gotta get bodies on bodies and grab the ball when it’s in your area. Only zeke and Bruce brown didn’t disappoint me tonight with rebounding.
Overall conclusion: it’s the first game of preseason, none of this matters really, still a fun game, Jamal and mpj are back and no one got hurt and that’s all I really care about.
Loved seeing Jokic try to get the starters going and get their confidence back esp. trying to boost up MPJ / Murray.
The bench is going to be concerning, outside of Bones and maybe Brown I’m worried.
38 combined TOVs? 48 combined FTA? Pre-Season basketball is here baby!!!
Also can’t shoot as a team .411/.303/.739 (50.4% TS, 46.7% EFG) and commit 17 TOVs and hope to win. Also, got outrebounded pretty considerably both overall as well as in terms of offensive rebounds. You should never get out-offensive rebounded when you are shooting ~10% worse from the field than your opponent. They literally have less chances for offensive rebounds than you do.
Lots to clean up. But Jamal is back, MPJ is back and looked like MPJ, Zeke looked very good, AG looked very good, and I think you could really see how KCP and BB are defensive upgrades. Thought DJ, Jeff, and Ish looked better than expected as well. Vlatko had some really nice chemistry with Zeke especially.
Bones I thought was disappointing. Most of the team shooting was subpar. And I really didn’t think Jokic came with nearly the same intensity as his teammates tonight, which should be called out.
Glad Nuggets basketball is back!
My thoughts: Jamal and Jok is still beautiful. I love Bruce Brown and there’s something about the way he moves that’s just mesmerizing. Mike looked great and that pass to the AG thunderdunk was a damn beautiful play and it’s good to see him making those plays. Ish is pretty damn crafty and quick as hell. Bones didn’t look great but that’s ok lotta new faces around him and I expect him to figure it out. Would like to see Zeke with Bones instead of DJ to open up the paint more but I’m sure we will. KCP wasn’t hitting but I liked his defense, needs to settle down a bit on drives. Overall: I’m fucking pumped for this season and I love our chances.
Doomers shitting on Braun lmao
Bro the Jamal buzzer beater to end the first half was fucking transcendental 😭😭😭
I really want a detective drama with Vlatcos mustache and Jeff green
Well good news on Jokic…he had just finished a 5 hour Pokemon shiny hunt, thus the ice wrap on his hand.
Is it just me or do Kawhi’s legs look way smaller than the pictures?
Thought I might cry when Jamal took the court again.
I certainly did.
Pre-season overreactions–
The most important stuff:
A) Murray and MPJ looked great on O!!! The question remains in regards to defensively where they are at. But the most important question recieved very promising results. So happy to see Mal on the court and smiling.
B) Gordon and MPJ looked great playing off each other again
C) Murray’s BBIQ is so underrated.
D) Brown looked as good as we could have imagined. His 3 ball was dropping and he did a bit of everything while fitting in seamlessly.
The small sample size, secondary observations:
A) I remain skeptical KCP = Monte + Barton because he is sooo limited offensively. But he will still be a big upgrade defensively which is what matters most come playoff time.
B) DJ actually looked better than I was expecting BUT there is gonna be a dearth of playmaking and rebounding with him and Green playing as the backup bigs. Frankly, the playmaking with the second unit is a pretty fair concern…. but Cancar would go a long way towards solving that.
C) Zeke looked great. Him + Cancar has way more upside than DJ + Green. But they would need reps with Bones + Brown (and probably Green over Reed due to locker room reasons) before becoming reliable.
D) Watson flashed defensively. Braun, however, looked shook and his shot broke. If he doesn’t get that fixed, he’s gonna be out of the league quicker than you can say Tyler Lyndon. Booth’s drafting remains the huge question mark in regards to his summer resume. And neither guy is ready to play right now which might matter if there are injuries.
E) Bones may have more of a learning curve as a point guard than we were hoping but he will get there.
I can’t wait to transfer my frustrations from Thrill to KCP