Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman had to improvise on Saturday after entering their game against the Sacramento Kings without his starting forward Aaron Gordon who exited the game the night before after just three minutes.
That improvisation did not produce good results as his team lost to the Kings who lost their eighth straight before the night.
The worse part about is that his decision is being seen by many as the main suspect for the defeat.
Adelman decided to start Spencer Jones in place of Gordon instead of having Bruce Brown or Tim Hardaway Jr. Jones finished with just two points, five fouls, and team worst -18 plus/minus.
The loss wasted Nikola Jokic’s 44-point game.
The reactions on Jones’ game is are total opposites of what fans were saying to him as a defensive anchor in win over the Houston Rockets the night before.
Having Spencer Jones be the primary defender when the team needs ONE stop, game on the line.
That’s a choice.
— Duvalier Johnson (@DuvalierJohnson) November 23, 2025
That was a disappointing loss…Wasted a Jokic 44 point night.
I know it was on a back to back but man..
Postgame thoughts, Nuggets fans?
Spencer Jones was bad tonight pic.twitter.com/5Q7WYiMrAP
— SleeperNuggets (@SleeperNuggets) November 23, 2025
Others thought it was not Jones himself who was at fault but Adelman.
Yea man Adelman starting Spencer Jones was bad. Adelman playing Spencer Jones in crunch time of a close game was insane.
— Will Sandoval (@BillySandoval9) November 23, 2025
Why the fuck is Spencer Jones playing all these minutes
— S (@garethouu) November 23, 2025
David Adelman defends Jones
It was Adelman who made the decision to start Jones and use him in crunchtime and he is standing by it.
He thought it will be learning moment for the 2024 undrafted forward and he just happened to be up against one of the best one on one players in the league.
“I’m concerned about anybody guarding DeRozan. He’ll learn from that,” the coach told reporters after the game.
“He got his hand in there. That’s what DeMar does. He has always been an artist with that.”
He also reiterated his confidence on Jones,
“I have nothing but full confidence in him — the way he moves his feet and competes, and these great, great player’s he’s guard in the last 10 days, two weeks, that’s how you lean. Gotta go out there and do it.”
David Adelman:
“Spence (Spencer Jones) will learn from it. I have nothing but full confidence in him — the way he moves his feet and competes…that’s how you learn. Got to go out there and do it.” pic.twitter.com/loWkgbZOe6
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) November 23, 2025
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