Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, left, fights for control of a rebound with Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Joffrey Lauvergne had 18 points and eight rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Chicago Bulls 112-94 on Thursday night in an exhibition at the University of Colorado's Coors Event Center.
Will Barton had 17 points and Jokic Nikola added 14 for the Nuggets (2-1).
NUGGETS: Lauvergne has been getting the bulk of the preseason time at center in the absence of starter Jusuf Nurkic, who is sidelined by a left patellar tendon injury.
BULLS: Nikola Mirotic led the Bulls (1-1) with 18 points, making a pair of 3-pointers.
NOAH'S NIGHT: Joakim Noah appeared shaken up when he hit the floor hard in a first-quarter tussle for the ball with Kenneth Faried, but he returned to play in the second quarter and finished with five rebounds and two points in 15 minutes.
SIDELINED: The Nuggets' Darrell Arthur missed the game with a right hamstring strain. The Bulls' Derrick Rose is continuing his recovery from a left orbital bone fracture suffered Sept. 29 in the team's first practice of the season.
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, front, grimaces as he falls on the floor while fighting for a rebound with Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari, left, of Italy, protects the ball as Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler reaches for a steal in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, left, battles for position for a rebound with Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
Chicago Bulls forward Cameron Bairstow, left, fights for control of a rebound with Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. Denver won 112-94. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press