50 years later, honoring our ABA roots

Final: Nuggets 133, Bulls 128. Denver's 2-1 in the preseason. Starters get the 4Q off. DeMar DeRozan chucked his shoes into the crowd in the final minute. Next time we're back at Ball, it's the regular-season hoops.

Bryce Hopkins and Alpha Diallo with a couple of strong finishes in the final minute of the third, and Denver is up 99-94 to start the fourth. Jokic has 22-11-10.

Well, Aaron Gordon and Cam Johnson look ready. Denver's up 1 in the middle of the third. Cam hasn't missed. AG's 9-12 with a game-high 25 points (Bulls resting some starters after halftime)

Caleb Wilson hits a tough 3 just before the buzzer, and Chicago leads 68-59 at the half. Chicago's 12-24 from 3. Denver's 5-18 even after hitting a few late in 2Q. Jokic (16-3-6), Aaron Gordon (12 and 4) and Cam Johnson (10 and 3 on 3-3 3PT) in double figures for Denver.

Nuggets up 29-27 after one. Jokic has 14 on 5-5 FG. He's the only Nugget with more than 4 points. Denver's 1-9 from 3. Chicago is 5-12. Matas Buzelis leads the Bulls with 8.

Alpha Diallo is the third guy off Denver's bench.

Nuggets up 19-17 when DeMar Derozan and Julian Strawther check in with 4:44 left in the first. Nikola Jokic with 10 pretty effortless points on 4-4 FG.

Spencer’s going through a more dynamic workout today - wouldn’t say he’s moving close to 100%, but it feels like a solid increase on yesterday’s activity.

Vinny Benedetto@vbenedetto.bsky.social · 4d ago

Spencer Jones is doing some light jogging after practice today. Season opener is two weeks from tonight.

Asked David Adelman about Alpha Diallo's defensive versatility and whether he can physically front bigs the way opposing teams have defended Nikola Jokic. DA thinks so. He wanted to see Diallo on Jaren Jackson Jr., but sub patterns didn't work out. Here's DA on his new stopper:

Spencer Jones is doing some light jogging after practice today. Season opener is two weeks from tonight.

Nuggets win 117-106. Good stuff from Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Julian Strawther and Alpha Diallo (minus the FTs). Whitmore filled it up late. Darryn Peterson leads all scorers with 23.

It feels like the final rotation spot comes down to Julian Strawther and Alpha Diallo, and I'm glad that decision is not mine to make.

Looks like starters and DeRozan are done for the night. Trevor Brazile alongside Jones/Strawther/Diallo/Bagley to start the third.

Nuggets offense goes brrrr in the second quarter. Denver leads 61-56 at halftime. Starting five's defense has been pretty brutal at times. AG with an encouraging 18 and 5. Cam Johnson adds 10 on 7 FGA. Darryn Peterson's going to be a dude for a long time.

I think Aaron Gordon's enjoying his time on the basketball court.

Can I bet on Nikola Jokic getting a technical foul in a preseason game?

Jazz up 31-24 after one. Alpha Diallo gets the nod alongside Jones/Strawther/DeRozan/Bagley to close the quarter.

Nuggets starters go -7 in their first stint against a Jazz team without Jusuf Nurkic and Lauri Markkanen. Aaron Gordon looks good. Nikola Jokic is shooting. No one else hitting 3s/POA defense an issue. DeMar DeRozan and Julian Strawther are first off the bench.

Nuggets will have their starting five - Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic - together for tonight’s preseason game in Utah.

Final: Jazz 109, Nuggets 97. The season is doomed.

Trevon Brazile is doing some things here in the third. Things include protecting the rim and hitting open 3s.

Looks like the night is over for Denver's starters. It's Nembhard/Strawther/Whitmore/Brazile/Bagley to start the third.

Jazz lead 63-52 at halftime. Aaron Gordon leads teh Nuggets with 12 points. Jokic with 3-3-7. Lauri Markkanen with 17 for the Jazz. Utah 8-23 from 3. Denver 5-20.

Jokic takes his first shot with 57.5 seconds left in the second quarter. Good bit.

I think Christian Braun has his bounce back.

Jazz up 36-26 after one. Nuggets close the quarter with a Tyus/Strawther/DeRozan/Brazile/Bagley lineup. Cam Johnson's 2-5 from 3. Rest of the Nuggs are 0-5. Jazz 5-13 from 3.

No surprise, but DeMar DeRozan is going to be the first Nugget off the bench. He's in for Tyus Jones. Denver up 12-11 in the middle of the first. Jokic diming. Cam Johnson getting his shot up.

Jamal Murray just walked onto the court in street clothes. He won't play tonight for personal reasons.

Asked Cam Johnson about Ryan Nembhard’s addition, and he made sure to give KJ Simpson his flowers: