Tyus Jones was back in a starting role for the Nuggets on Friday, his first start with Denver and his 11th of the season, as the team faced the Thunder. Jones had seen little time in the Nuggets' rotation since the beginning of March, but injuries forced him into the lineup after seven Nuggets players were ruled out.
Jamal Murray was sidelined with a shoulder injury, and Christian Braun was out with an ankle injury, opening the door for Jones to start at a point where Denver had few healthy options left. Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman noted before the game that Jones was in the Nuggets' starting lineup against the Thunder on Friday.
The move also marked a quick return to a role Jones had not filled since Feb. 20, when he last started as a member of the Mavericks and finished with 13 points, six assists and one rebound in 26 minutes. That performance showed the scoring and distribution Denver can lean on when Jones is asked to do more than fill a gap.
For the Nuggets, the lineup change underscored how thin the roster was on Friday. For Jones, it offered a chance to show he could deliver in a more visible role after weeks of limited minutes in Denver. The question now is whether this start was a one-night fix or the kind of opportunity that can change how the Nuggets use him going forward.
