LOS ANGELES — The Nuggets lost 116-103 to the Clippers on Tuesday night in their fourth preseason game, the first in which Denver has rested its starters. The Clippers, meanwhile, played theirs.
Here are our three takeaways from the loss.
Mixed results for backup bigs
Without Nikola Jokic in the lineup, DeAndre Jordan struggled to contain Clippers center Ivica Zubac early in the game, as Zubac compiled eight points in the first seven minutes including an easy second-chance tip. Jordan’s night featured highs and lows: He turned the ball over five times, but he also shot 4 for 5, pulled in nine rebounds and amassed four assists in 21 minutes.
Zeke Nnaji, still adjusting to the responsibilities of a full-time five, only grabbed five rebounds in 22 minutes. He tested his offensive game in his earlier minutes, putting the ball on the floor and driving at one point (he got by his defender but couldn’t finish in traffic) and taking an open three when Los Angeles invited him to. The shots didn’t fall — he finished 3 for 9 — and when they didn’t, Nnaji seemed to stop playing as aggressively at that end of the floor. He was often stationed out on the perimeter as Denver ran its offense. The Nuggets need him to be as seamless at that end as he is on defense, where he had two steals Tuesday.
Bench offense is limited. That’s why Reggie Jackson is important.
In a game for the reserves, Denver’s lack of scoring options off the bench was clear. Peyton Watson had a couple of mature moments with the ball in his hands against big time players, but he was inefficient overall (11 points on 15 shots). Los Angeles played to deny Julian Strawther looks, and he finally cooled off after seven early points (3 for 11) with Paul George on him.
Which is why it was so important for Jackson, the former Clipper and apparent backup point guard behind Jamal Murray, to be assertive with the ball. Jackson looked much more confident running the offense and taking things into his own hands than he did in the first couple of preseason games. He avoided turnovers and shot at a high volume, which the Nuggets want to see when he’s on the floor without any starters.
Jackson finished with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers, after interim coach David Adelman conceded pregame that Jackson will be a major role player this fall.
“I think Reggie’s going to be a huge part of what we do, especially early in the season,” Adelman said. “… Julian’s been great, and Christian (Braun) is coming back, but Christian’s a second-year player. And Julian’s a rookie.”
Key shows up as a key
Surprisingly, the frontcourt player who stood out most for the Nuggets was forward Braxton Key, who’s on a two-way deal. His help defense earned him a couple of blocks, he rebounded well at both ends of the floor (eight total) and he scored 10 points on six shots. Key looked a bit more comfortable using his size than Nnaji.
