With a chance to start their 2026-27 season with a statement road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Denver Nuggets could not finish the job. The Nuggets looked solid to start the new season, taking an early lead over the Thunder in Thursday night's matchup, but they could not hang on, ultimately losing 96-84.

Last season, the Nuggets scored under 100 points just twice. Obviously, it is a bit of a shock to see them finish with just 84 points on Thursday. It was a slow offensive game overall, with both teams shooting below 40% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. Still, the Thunder's defense clearly gave the Nuggets' offense some problems.

We should try to avoid overreacting to the Nuggets' season opener, but here are a few key takeaways from Thursday night's road loss:

A second-half disaster

Oct 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena.…