The Nuggets’ second unit looked simultaneously different and the same in Saturday’s game against the Clippers.

In Denver’s first game of the season, a 102-87 loss to the Thunder on Thursday, Jamal Murray was the first starter subbed out so he could return to the court minutes later to help the oft-criticized bench unit. That’s been Michael Malone’s norm for the past few seasons.

Saturday, Michael Porter Jr. was the one tasked with helping Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson and Dario Saric get going after the four reserves were all plus-minus negatives in the opener.

“Me and Mike don’t get to spend much time with each other on the floor,” Strawther said. “So, you know just having us both out there and just being able to space the floor … obviously, shots didn’t fall tonight.”

After missing both his 3s in the opener, Strawther’s shot did fall Saturday. He made both 3s he attempted and led Denver’s reserves with eight points. The rest of the bench totaled three points and went 0 of 13 from the field.

“In both games, I feel like we generated a lot of good looks,” Strawther said. “Right now, shots just aren’t falling. There’s no panic in our team. We all trust and believe in each other’s abilities. We’ll keep it moving.”

Denver’s reserves were all negatives again Saturday. Westbrook was a team-worst minus-13 in 19 minutes, while Strawther and Saric were both minus-12. The worst stretch came in the first half. Nikola Jokic checked out with the Nuggets trailing by a point. When the three-time Most Valuable Player returned four-plus minutes into the second quarter it was a nine-point deficit. The Clippers went on to lead by as many as 18 before Denver’s starters heated up and made it a game in the second half.

“I didn’t see any signs of life,” Malone said of the second quarter.

“Right now, we’re trying to figure ourselves out, but we’ve just got to play harder for longer. I’d use the word more disciplined for longer, as well.”

A lack of familiarity is obvious. Westbrook and Saric are two games into their time with the Nuggets, and Watson missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. Murray, who played some minutes with the reserves, but not as many as usual admitted to being confused during one transition sequence.

“A lot of it is coming from chemistry. I remember I was running the break today, and I didn’t know if I should go to the two or the three,” Murray said.

“Once we clear those things up and limit the turnovers, don’t beat ourselves, we’ll be fine.”

Denver’s starters were all positives in the plus-minus Saturday, while the reserves were all in the negative. Though there’s little proof in the small sample size to start the season that change will come, but that’s the belief after Denver’s two-point lead turned into a one-point deficit during Jokic’s short second-half break Saturday.

“In flashes, we had some great stretches. (We’re) just unable to sustain that right now, and we’ll get there,” Malone said. “I promise you that. We will get there.”