The Denver Nuggets had the perfect opportunity to spoil the Oklahoma City Thunder's home opener on Thursday. 

The occasion was perfect — the Nuggets' first regular-season game, and one in which back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17 points) shot 6-for-19 from the field and saw his streak of 141 consecutive 20-point games end. 

However, unfortunately for Denver, the ball wouldn't fall into the hoop for their superstars either. 

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 19 points on 7-for-30 shooting, as the Thunder (2-0) pulled away late to win 96-84. 

The solution when both of your top scorers don't have it going is simple: it's the next man up. 

With Jokic managing just 13 points — on 5-for-19 from the field and an eyebrow-raising 1-for-7 from beyond the arc — and Murray chipping in 6 points on 2-for-11, someone else has to keep the boat above water. 

"The other guys have to step up," head coach David Adelman said afterward. "If there are that many bodies being brought to [Jokic and Murray], the attention that they get, other people have to step up and make shots. And we trust them to do that." 

Adelman wasn't disappointed with his group's effort, but he wants to see more bravery in taking what the opposing defense gives them. 

Elsewhere in the starting lineup, Aaron Gordon held up his end of the deal on a minutes restriction. He led the Nuggets in scoring with 20 points (6-for-9 FG, 3-for-4 3PT) and added six rebounds, two steals, and a block. 

Christian Braun joined Jokic and Murray by chipping in 7 points on 3-for-10 from the field. Cameron Johnson started the game well, scoring 5 points (2-for-3 FG) in 11 minutes before leaving the game with an ankle sprain. 

Adelman said Johnson's early exit certainly threw off his rotations, especially in a season opener when everyone is still learning to play together; however, he refused to use that as an excuse for his team letting this winnable game slip away. 

It certainly didn't help, though, especially when the Nuggets were already shorthanded due to the absences of Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones. 

Aside from DeMar DeRozan, who contributed 13 points (and five turnovers) in 28 minutes in his debut, the Nuggets got just 20 points from their bench. That's not enough on a night when three starters shot 10-for-40, particularly when Jokic and Murray are two of them. 

The rest of the second unit (seven players) shot a combined 8-for-21 from the field. Adelman doesn't just need them to be more efficient; he wants them to shoot more, too. 

Rookie Trevon Brazile had a promising debut, offering four points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes. He went 1-for-6 from the field (0-for-4 3PT), but Adelman encouraged the No. 35 overall pick in this year's Draft to keep letting it fly when opportunities arise. 

In fact, it's a message he wants his entire team to hear. 

"The open man wins in the NBA, especially against this team," Adelman said. "If you turn down open shots and drive it back into their defense, this is the best defense in the league, so that's not a good decision. But we'll keep working at it."