The Denver Nuggets got a big performance from their top pick in the draft tonight when they faced off in the Las Vegas Summer League against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Trevon Brazile stole the show and piled up a massive scoring night with thirty-two points. His consistent offensive attack was what the Nuggets needed to secure a victory over the Thunder’s pair of first round picks Aday Mara and Bennet Stirtz who made it interesting down the stretch. Erik Stevenson chipped in twelve points and Osayi Osofo had eleven off the bench but it was the Brazile show practically from the jump tonight. The Nuggets earn their second victory of the Summer League with a 106-103 win.

The game got off to a nice start for Denver with Stevenson breaking ankles on a step back three. That was the only basket for two minutes until the Nuggets started knocking down some more outside shots. After a nice putback dunk from Giovanni Emejeru put them up 11-4 OKC had to take a timeout. That got the Thunder re-energized which, combined with some cold shooting from the Nuggets, got them right back into the game. Denver drew some fouls to stay in front as the quarter was winding down but the Thunder stayed close. Brazile got hot down the stretch and hit a pair of threes while OKC attacked the paint. He nailed another three and then finished a fast break with a windmill jam to cap a big run. Denver ended the quarter with a 31-22 lead.

The Nuggets kept in front in the early going of the second. The game was a bit disjointed, as Summer League often is, but some timely shots kept the lead in double digits. Stevenson made a couple more threes and overall Denver was getting their jumpers to fall while the pace was elevated. There was no defense to speak of though and the Thunder were able to trim the lead a bit midway through the quarter. The Nuggets offense was cold without Brazile on the floor and OKC was within three going into the final minutes of the half. Trevon came back in and made some plays, including knocking down another three. He was feeling very comfortable from the top of the arch. It was all coming up aces for him in the first half, he banked in a half court shot at the buzzer and the half ended with the Nuggets up 60-51.

The Nuggets were sloppy to open the second half. They had a couple turnovers and missed some defensive assignments on the other end which let OKC cut the lead to four. Brazile was the only one making plays on Denver’s side. He had a tip in where he flew to the rim out of nowhere and then followed that with a nice drive to the basket. The Nuggets kept blowing assignments on defense though which let the Thunder pull within a basket midway through the quarter. Denver’s bench group got a couple buckets from three and were the beneficiary of some poor ball security on OKC’s side to get it back up to seven. Brazile came back in and once again played well. He was active on the boards and forced the issue on the other end by getting to the basket. That helped keep Denver’s lead up near ten. At the end of three they led 78-71.

The Nuggets went cold to open the fourth while the Thunder’s first round pick duo of Mara and Stirtz worked a two man game to get a couple of easy alley-oops. OKC got back within a couple buckets while the Nuggets offense sputtered again. Eventually they were able to get some threes to fall to build the lead back up to nine. Osifo had some active minutes. He buried a three and then drew a foul challenging Mara at the rim. Brazile came back in and it was more of the same. First he blew by Mara for a layup and then hit another three. That brought the lead up to double digits and the Nuggets looked like they were headed towards a victory. In a rare mistake from Brazile though he closed out too hard on Payton Sandfort and fouled him to make a three point play which brought the lead back to five. They seemed to re-energize OKC. It got exciting going down the stretch. Stirtz and Sandfort carried the Thunder while the Nuggets desperately tried to hold on. It came right down to the wire with OKC having a chance to tie it on a three at the buzzer but it caught iron and Denver was able to hold on for a 106-103 victory.

Final Thoughts

Great to see Brazile shine

Trevon didn’t have the best opening game in Summer League and then sat out game two with a sore shoulder. During that time the Nuggets gave him a full NBA contract and perhaps that re-assurance that he is going to be an NBA player was all he needed. Brazile was clearly the best player on the court tonight and it was a complete game all around for him. He shot very well from three, had no trouble getting to the basket, crashed the boards and played some solid defense as well. The Nuggets used him in a myriad of actions and he consistently made the defense pay by making the right decision. He ends the game with thirty-two points, six rebounds, a steal and a block. Promising look from the rookie and something to get excited about this Summer.

Not sure there’s another NBA player on this roster

It was not the best game for Denver’s other draft pick, Bryce Hopkins, though he’s been strong in the first two contests. Hopkins likely ends up on a two-way deal but after him I don’t think there’s a guy on this Summer League team who is going to be wearing a Nuggets uniform this season. DeJon Jarreau has had some nice moments through three games and Stevenson has shown off his range but there’s just little to get excited about beyond the Nuggets top two guys (and K.J. Simpson) on this roster. Denver will still have at least two more games to go in the Summer so there’s still time for these guys to show out but unless someone really ups their game I think the rest of this SL roster is headed to the G-League or Europe.