Bulls' Thin Frontcourt Faces a Tinkering Nuggets Team in Denver

Chicago's frontcourt concerns and defensive questions give Denver the edge in this preseason matchup at Ball Arena.

CHI @ DEN Oct 12, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC

The Bulls arrive at Ball Arena for a preseason game with more questions about their big men than answers. Nic Claxton's hamstring is the biggest one. Yahoo lists him as questionable, while USA Today has him out with a tweaked hamstring and an expected return of Oct. 21. Either way, his availability shapes how Chicago builds its frontcourt rotation.

The trouble is that the depth behind him is also uncertain. Zach Collins (toe) and Jalen Smith (foot) are both listed as questionable. If several of those bigs sit, Chicago will have to lean on whoever is left, and that is a tough spot against a Denver team playing at home.

That matters because defense is coach Tiago Splitter's focus in camp, and the Bulls' opener left a lot to be desired on that end. Fouling and protecting the rim were the specific concerns. A thinned-out interior could make those problems worse, and Denver should be able to attack the paint and get to the line.

Denver has its own uncertainty. Yahoo lists Spencer Jones as questionable with a hamstring issue, while USA Today reports no current injuries, so the Nuggets' health is unclear. David Adelman is also expected to experiment with the rotation behind his top eight. That means unfamiliar lineups and some sloppiness, which could keep the game closer than the talent gap suggests.

Still, Denver's home court, steadier frontcourt and more settled top group should be enough. Chicago's defensive issues and lack of size tilt the game toward the Nuggets late, even if the preseason rotations make it choppy. Prediction: Nuggets 118, Bulls 109.

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