Lauri Markkanen

Trevon Brazile knew Spencer Jones not playing meant more minutes, so he studied film with Denver's development staff, then started against Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. Coach David Adelman said he earned it every day, but "I'm going to rotate that spot."

Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy called the Jaren Jackson Jr.–Lauri Markkanen frontcourt a matchup problem because of their physicality, but warned it won't always look smooth: "It's going to be a work in progress... There will be games where it can feel a little bit clunky."