Nuggets bench takes a promising first step toward fixing non-Jokic minutes

Writer David Decker highlights that the Denver Nuggets' revamped bench showed significant promise by winning the non-Nikola Jokic minutes despite a 96-84 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver's reserve unit finished plus-eight during Jokic's rest periods and outscored the Thunder reserves 33-31 overall, which Decker argues signals a noticeable upgrade over the team's depth struggles from last season.

Several bench contributors stepped up in the defeat, including rookie Trevon Brazile collecting 12 rebounds in 18 minutes. Marvin Bagley III provided solid interior minutes, Alpha Diallo offered perimeter defense, and DeMar DeRozan scored 13 points in his Nuggets debut despite recording five turnovers.