Nuggets Hold Off Bulls 133-128 in Preseason Matchup

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Chicago Bulls 133-128 at Ball Arena on Sunday night, October 11, 2026, in their third preseason game. Cam Whitmore secured the victory with two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, while Denver used extended minutes for its starting lineup to build game readiness ahead of the regular season.

Nikola Jokic finished with 22 points and a triple-double, while Aaron Gordon scored 25 points on 12 shots and collected six rebounds. Cam Johnson contributed 15 points in the second quarter, making five of seven shots during the period. Chicago rookie Caleb Wilson recorded 17 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Denver's starting group played beyond halftime for the first time this preseason, according to the game report published by The Denver Post. Coach David Adelman had previously been unable to keep his full starting five together for several months last season because Jokic, Johnson, Christian Braun and Gordon took turns recovering from injuries.

Johnson's expanded involvement was another notable development. During his 25 minutes, he participated in split actions around Jokic, moved through dribble handoffs and created opportunities off the ball. He also made 3-pointers, communicated while initiating inbound plays and recorded two steals.

Johnson's role in Denver's offensive system will remain important as the season approaches. His activity and decision-making offered a contrast to his slower start last season, when the Nuggets did not fully capitalize on his abilities early in the campaign.

DeMar DeRozan's integration into Denver's offense remains a challenge after the team's first three preseason games. He missed all four of his field-goal attempts against Chicago, but the larger concern was how the Nuggets organized their offense during his minutes.

DeRozan produced several promising playmaking sequences, including a pass through traffic to Jokic in the paint and a coast-to-coast drive followed by a kick-out to the perimeter. However, Denver was outscored by 10 points during his nine first-half minutes, according to The Denver Post's analysis.

Adelman faces decisions about the lineups and offensive combinations best suited to DeRozan's isolation-oriented game. The coach has been willing to let DeRozan continue taking shots, with the understanding that a missed attempt can still allow Denver to establish its defense if the possession ends without a turnover.

Marvin Bagley III's absence complicated the evaluation against Chicago. Because Bagley sat out, Zeke Nnaji filled the backup-center role when DeRozan was not playing alongside Jokic. Denver will also need to balance DeRozan's scoring opportunities with the pick-and-roll combination involving Tyus Jones and Bagley when the full roster is available.

Gordon and Wilson provided another competitive matchup during the exhibition. Gordon, the No. 4 pick in the 2014 draft, faced Wilson, the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft, at both ends of the floor. Their performances highlighted a matchup scheduled to feature twice during the regular season.

Jokic also showed a more aggressive scoring approach than in Denver's two preseason games against Utah, finishing with 22 points and a triple-double. The starters, however, struggled to defend in transition and secure defensive rebounds, particularly late in the third quarter as their conditioning was tested. Denver turned the game over to its reserves in the fourth quarter.