The Nuggets started the preseason with a 115-107 win over the Suns on Tuesday in Phoenix.

Here are three takeaways from the first of Denver’s five preseason games:

1. The Nuggets led 55-48 at the half, as they should have. The Suns opted not to play Devin Booker, Bradley Beal or Kevin Durant. The Nuggets held out Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun due to minor injuries, but played Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the rest of the starters in the first half. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made all three of his 3-point attempts, while Murray matched Caldwell-Pope’s team-high 12 points in the first half with five assists, two steals and no turnovers. Murray’s plus-12 in the first half led all players. Despite the limited opposition, Denver’s starters did their job in the first two quarters before sitting out the second half.

2. Former Gonzaga star Julian Strawther made a strong argument for himself. Though Braun and Porter’s absences decreased Denver’s depth on the wings, Strawther showed up for his first NBA preseason game. He looked confident and comfortable from the 3-point line, making 4 of 7 attempts from deep while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists. Denver’s two other rookies didn’t enjoy as much success. Hunter Tyson missed all six of his shots, including four 3-pointers, but grabbed four rebounds and recorded a couple of assists. Jalen Pickett finished with five points and an assist in 17 minutes of playing time, the fewest among the rookies.

3. Reggie Jackson was credited with one of the best summers, and the results were promising after one preseason game. The veteran guard struggled to find his stride with the Nuggets at the end of last season and found himself outside the regular rotation in the playoffs. The summer did him some good, as Jackson scored 14 points on 11 shots, making 3 of 5 shots from 3-point range. The 33-year-old appears to have a solid headstart on the backup point guard race. Though he shot it well, Jackson finished with three assists against four turnovers, although that could be a byproduct of Denver playing some funky lineups in their preseason opener.