The Denver Nuggets came up short in the 2025 playoffs, losing in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who went on to become the NBA Champions. Needing to make changes in the offseason, the new-look front office added key depth pieces to the roster to improve their chances of competing with the top end of the league.

Flash forward to the 2025-26 season, the Nuggets need all the depth they can get, with Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Nikola Jokic all sidelined due to injuries, but the team was able to avoid a three-game skid and defeat the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. With Jonas Valanciunas now sidelined for four weeks, more hurdles are ahead for Denver.

The last opening night starter left healthy for the Nuggets is Jamal Murray, as the ninth-year guard has turned in an All-Star-worthy season as he eyes the first selection of his successful career. Despite being the focal point for Toronto's defensive gameplan, the Canadian star posted 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the victory.

After the game, he addressed the team's situation with injuries, providing an optimistic approach.

"We just keep doing what we're doing. Keep playing. We got to keep the ball hopping, play fast, play aggressive on defense, gang rebound, we just got to do a lot of stuff together. Not just Jokic, but with everybody out, we got to come together and do the little things and keep encouraging each other," Murray said.

The Nuggets continue to get strong production from their depth players, stepping into bigger roles they likely weren't expecting at the beginning of the season. Peyton Watson has continued his strong 2025-26 season in the final year of his contract, averaging 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds on 52.9% field-goal shooting and 40% from three in 21 games as a starter.

"It's not always to be pretty. It never really is pretty. Just keeping a mindset of do what you can, come with the right energy, right attitude, and the game will [unfold] however it does," he added.

While Watson has been good, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has had his moments of brilliance on offense, more players will need to continue to step up if Denver wants to avoid dropping significantly in the standings.

One player who will now be thrust into the spotlight is former first-round pick DaRon Holmes II, who saw 22 minutes of action against the Raptors, scoring 11 points and grabbing three rebounds. He's shown in the G League that he can affect the game on both ends of the floor, and his first test as a likely starter will be on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers' stout frontcourt.