Taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder is a tall enough order in and of itself, and doing it with a shortened bench is no easy task. The Nuggets look up to it on Thursday night, however, as they lead the Thunder 51-50 at halftime.

Denver is of course playing without Nene, whom was dealt to Washington just minutes before the trade deadline on Thursday in exchange for center JaVale McGee. McGee isn't yet available for duty, so Timofey Mozgov found himself in the starting lineup.

Danilo Gallinari paced the Nuggets with 13 points, and Denver was able to reasonably contain Oklahoma City's duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, which has combined for just 22 first half points.

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