What to Watch for in Nuggets’ Preseason Rematch With Jazz

The Denver Nuggets get another opportunity to evaluate their preseason progress Tuesday against the Utah Jazz after losing the first meeting 109-97 on Sunday in Boulder, Colorado.

The rematch shifts to Salt Lake City, but the more useful comparison will be how Denver handles the situations that caused problems in the opener.

The Nuggets shot 40.4% from the field and 28.2% from 3-point range. Nikola Jokić attempted only one shot, while Jamal Murray did not play.

Those circumstances limit how much anyone should conclude about the offense from one exhibition. Still, another game against the same opponent provides a useful chance to examine adjustments.

My priorities are how Denver creates shots, whether it finishes defensive possessions and which reserves make a repeatable case for minutes.

Jokić finished the opener with three points and seven assists in about 15 minutes. His limited shooting makes it more useful to examine what teammates did with the opportunities he created.

I would watch whether cutters move when defenders turn toward him and whether perimeter players shoot available looks without unnecessary hesitation.

A higher shooting percentage would be welcome, but the process deserves equal attention. Denver should want attempts created through purposeful movement and an advantage over the defense.

If Jokić plays, his scoring aggression will be interesting. However, there is little reason to treat a low preseason shot total as a problem by itself.

The more revealing question is whether the surrounding players help turn his touches into productive possessions. That includes maintaining spacing after the first pass and avoiding movement that brings another defender into a teammate’s path.

Utah collected 14 offensive rebounds in the opener, creating another area worth monitoring in the rematch.

Denver cannot evaluate its defense only by the quality of the initial contest. A possession remains alive if the Jazz recover the miss.

I would watch the guards and wings when a big man steps away from the basket to challenge a shot. Someone must account for the rebounder that rotation leaves behind.

The same applies when Denver forces an outside attempt. Long rebounds require awareness and pursuit from players beyond the frontcourt.

A stronger collective effort would help the Nuggets turn defensive work into opportunities to initiate their own offense.

The rematch also offers another opportunity to evaluate Denver’s newcomers, including DeMar DeRozan, Cam Whitmore and Alpha Diallo.

My focus would be on which combinations function well together, especially when Jokić is off the floor.

Can the group generate an initial advantage? Does the next player keep the possession moving? Can those same players communicate through a defensive rotation?

Scoring will influence the competition for minutes, but a reserve’s usefulness also depends on the possessions around those baskets.

Tuesday should give Denver more evidence about which players can fill specific needs. Consistent execution across consecutive games would mean more than an isolated scoring burst.