Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

A defensive lapse in the season-opener and a couple of questionable calls Friday are the only things preventing the Nuggets from a perfect 5-0 start to the season. Instead, a Stephen Curry 3 forced overtime, and a pair of Trail Blazers free throws in the final two seconds have the Nuggets sitting at 3-2 heading into Monday’s game against the Kings at Ball Arena.

Here are five things we’ve learned from the first five games of the season:

1. The Nuggets are among the association’s elite. Heading into Sunday’s games, the Nuggets are the only team with a top-five offensive and defensive rating. The 121.1 offensive rating ranks third behind only the Rockets (126.5) and 76ers (122.3). Denver’s 109.6 defensive rating is fourth behind the Thunder (104.1), Spurs (104.2) and Heat (106.3). Only the Spurs and Rockets have a better net rating than Denver.

2. Jamal Murray was ready from the jump. Murray just had the best October of his career. After an efficient 22-point performance in Portland, Murray is averaging a team-high 26 points per game. Even more impressive, he’s doing it on nearly 50-40-90 shooting splits. He’s shooting 52% from the field, 39.4% from 3 and 95% from the line. He’s also posting 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. If he can keep that up, there will be a real conversation about Murray being a first-time All-Star this season.

3. The numbers don’t tell the whole story with Nikola Jokic. Sure, he’s averaging another triple-double with 20.4 points, 14.4 rebounds and 10.8 assists, but he’s missed some uncharacteristic shots in the clutch, including a potential game-winner against the Warriors and a game-tying shot at the buzzer on Friday.  It’s too early for concern, but if Jokic scored at his regular clip in the first five games, there’s a good chance Denver’s among the last unbeaten teams in the NBA.

4. Most of the newcomers showed up ready to go. Jonas Valanciunas has shored up Denver’s second unit. Bruce Brown is playing with the same kind of energy that made him a fan favorite a couple of years ago. Tim Hardaway Jr. showed up ready to shoot it, and he’s knocking his 3s down at a 44.4% clip. Hardaway is the top-scoring reserve and fourth-leading scorer. The only exception is Cam Johnson, who’s shooting under 40% from the field. The quicker Johnson gets up to speed, the better off the Nuggets will be.

5. The Western Conference looks predictably tough, but there are still a couple of surprises. Victor Wembanyama already looks ready to lead the Spurs to contention. San Antonio and Oklahoma City were the only unbeaten teams in the Western Conference entering Sunday. Portland (4-2) is also off to a surprising start, while Minnesota and Dallas own two of the conference’s most disappointing starts.

What I’m Thinking

The trade for Cam Johnson was supposed to be the most impactful move the Nuggets made this offseason, but it’s the acquisition of Jonas Valanciunas so far.

The Nuggets used some of the financial flexibility attained by sending Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn to get Valanciunas from the Kings for Dario Saric. The Kings used some of the money they saved in the trade to sign Russell Westbrook, who spent last season with Denver.

Saric has only played in three games. He’s averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in limited minutes. Westbrook has unsurprisingly run hot and cold in his short time with the Kings. He’s played in all six games, starting two. He went 8 for 14 and scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, in a two-game stint against the Lakers and Thunder, two of his former teams. In the last two games against the Bulls and the Bucks, Westbrook is 8 of 23 from the field and 1 of 9 from 3-point range. He’s headed back to Denver, averaging 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 26 minutes per game.

Valanciunas has only played 12 minutes per game in his first five contests with the Nuggets, but his presence has altered Denver’s second unit more than the numbers suggest. He’s averaging 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 54% from the field. He’s scored eight or more points in four of his first five games. Getting the Lithuanian center for Saric straight up was a steal, even if Sacramento was financially motivated to make the move. He’ll get to show his former team as much on Monday.

What They’re Saying

Saturday’s Last Two Minutes Report backed the officials from the Nuggets’ loss in Portland on Friday. Neither the jump ball called between Toumani Camara nor Aaron Gordon’s foul in the final seconds were deemed to be incorrect calls. The former still didn’t seem to make much sense to Nuggets coach David Adelman after Sunday’s practice.

“We have to teach guys to do that. If you’re allowed to wrap someone from behind with two arms, as long as you touch the ball, it’s jump ball, that’s a fundamental I have to teach in practice,” Adelman said Sunday. “So, we will definitely do that.”

What I’m Following

• Jamal Murray (left calf tightness) and Cameron Johnson (right shoulder inflammation) are both probable for Monday’s game against the Kings. DaRon Holmes II, Tamar Bates and Curtis Jones will be unavailable, as they’re on G League assignments.
• Things are getting a little tense in Memphis. The Grizzlies suspended star guard Ja Morant for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Morant’s leadership was reportedly challenged by first-year coach Tuomas Iisalo after the Grizzlies’ loss to the Lakers on Friday.
• Oklahoma City All-Star Jalen Williams’ recovery is going to take a little longer. He had a follow-up procedure to remove a screw that was creating irritation in his right wrist after an offseason surgery. He will be reevaluated in 10 to 14 days, the team announced.
• Atlanta’s momentum after an impressive offseason stalled a bit Saturday. Trae Young will be reevaluated in four weeks after suffering a sprained Medial Collateral Ligament in his right knee.