The Denver Nuggets closed out the preseason with an impressive 103-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. Despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers put up a strong fight, led by former Nugget Bones Hyland. The third-year point guard had an outstanding performance, contributing 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists before rolling his ankle in the third quarter and unable to return. It was evident he had a score to settle.

The Nuggets showcased a balanced performance, both from their starters and their bench players. Nikola Jokić continued to display his remarkable skills with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists in just 28 minutes. He shot efficiently, going 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 13 points each, while Jamal Murray, despite some struggles, managed eight points and seven assists. The starters had a strong first quarter, faced challenges in the second, and bounced back in the third, concluding the preseason on a positive note.

Hunter Tyson started the game in place of the injured Michael Porter Jr. and had some moments of adjustment in Denver’s fast-paced playing style. However, he did impress with a well-executed cut and dunk, assisted by Murray. Peyton Watson started the second half and displayed athleticism but struggled with his shooting, going 1-of-6 from the field.

The bench performance had its ups and downs, with some notable highlights. Zeke Nnaji led the way with 11 points and five rebounds, making 7-of-8 free throw attempts and demonstrating strong switch defense. However, his three-point shooting remained a work in progress, as he went 0-of-1 from long range that night. Notably, Nnaji improved his free-throw shooting, now standing at 82.1% after shooting 64.5% from the free-throw line last season.