National Basketball Association

What to Watch For: The Denver Nuggets Preseason Finale

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:47 p.m. ET

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Mar 28, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) and center Zaza Pachulia (27) defend against Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Mavericks defeated the Nuggets 97-88. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets will look close out their preseason with a win today, in a match-up against the Dallas Mavericks.

After coming off their fourth loss of their preseason schedule, the Nuggets head back to Denver to take on the Dallas Mavericks. This will be their only their second home game this preseason, and will be their final game until their regular season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Nuggets previous game was a 10-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. It was a pretty decisive victory for the Thunder, and you can read more about it in a post by Matthew Huff, right here.

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Players inactive due to injury, in the Nuggets game against the Mavericks, include: Quincy Acy (ankle), J.J. Barea (elbow), Darrell Arthur (knee), Gary Harris (groin) and Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle).

This game is scheduled to tip-off at 7:00 PM mountain time.

Even though this is still only the preseason, there are still many reasons to watch this game. So without further ado, here’s what to watch for:

Oct 14, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) guards Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in the second quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Murray is Sure to Impress

Even though it’s disappointing that the Nuggets will have to play without their two starting guards, it does come with some positives. Namely, that Jamal Murray has a larger opportunity to play and earn minutes in the regular season.

Since losing Mudiay and Harris, Murray has shown flashes which suggest that he could actually contend for the starting shooting guard position toward the end of this season.

He’s been great at creating offense for the team with the ball in his hands, by spacing the floor well and finding the open man if he feels that he can’t finish for himself. Maybe more importantly though, is that Murray has looked clutch.

He has looked fearless in the final moments of every close preseason game, and he’s not one to disappoint when all eyes are watching him. This aspect could mean very big things to this Nuggets team going forward.

When a team is as young as this Nuggets squad, there will always be close games which can more often finish in heartbreak if any of the young players can’t step-up when called upon. Jamal Murray doesn’t seem to have that problem, and that could mean big things for him going forward.

Look for him to give one last preseason push to better position himself for the regular season.

Oct 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

It’s About to get Serious

Another reason to watch this game, is because it will be the last one before the start of the regular season. Normally, that’s not really a positive thing because most people view the preseason as a waste of time. I happen to marginally agree with this notion, but I’m really interested in playing devil’s advocate on this one.

It’s the general consensus that the NBA preseason is nothing more than a bunch of tune-up games, full of marginally terrible basketball. It’s chock-full of turnovers and terrible shooting percentages and is not at all representative of the outcome of the regular season.

But let me help to guide you into thinking why it’s some of the best basketball all year. In order to do so, you have to first look at the negatives in a different perspective.

First, let’s look at the turnovers, shooting, and ultimately “terrible” basketball. Many people look at it with frustration, but I think it’s great for one reason, which also happens to be the cause of the “terrible” basketball.  It’s because preseason action is predominately played by NBA back-ups and D-Leaguers.

For most, that means that they won’t be watching the best players in the world on a nightly basis. But you should be viewing it as fringe-level players trying their hardest to make their dreams come true.

Many of those players rarely get opportunities during the regular season, and for most of them it’s their only chance shine in front of a large television audience.

For the Nuggets, that includes players such as Jarnell Stokes, Robbie Hummel and Nate Wolters. So I really hope that these three young men can get plenty of minutes in this game, to help their cause of making an NBA roster.

I also really hope that the NBA can work on re-branding the D-League, to increase its popularity among fans and not seem like a punishment for any players assigned to a D-League team.

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