The Nuggets played like there was no sleep in Brooklyn.

Denver got a couple of injured players back for Sunday’s matinee but still faded down the stretch. Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 127-115 loss Sunday at Barclays Center:

Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returned to the rotation, but neither seemed to be all the way back after missing more than a month. Braun reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup, while Gordon, playing on a minutes restriction, came off the bench. Gordon was productive around the rim, scoring 20 points on 8 of 15 shooting in 21 minutes of playing time, but didn’t have his usual mobility on the defensive end. Braun played 24 minutes but wasn’t very productive, finishing with three points, two rebounds and a block. Neither Braun nor Gordon were on the court to close the game. The Nuggets have a little more rest than a typical back-to-back, but don’t be surprised if both get a night off Monday in Philadelphia.

The Nets won the first meeting, and the offseason trade so far, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad decision from Denver’s executives. Michael Porter Jr. is making the most of his time as a No. 1 option, something that wasn’t going to be the case as long as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are Nuggets. Porter dropped 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in his first game against the team that drafted him in 2018. Cam Johnson was supposed to be a more versatile player to complete Denver’s starting five in Porter’s place, but a shooting slump early in the season and a December knee injury prevented him from establishing a rhythm to start his first season in Denver. It’s important to remember the Nuggets don’t have the financial flexibility to make the Jonas Valanciunas-for-Dario Saric trade without getting off of Porter’s contract. It’s also too early to determine which team won the trade, but there should be no hard feelings. Porter deserves a proper ovation when the Nets visit Ball Arena later this month.

The Nets paid Jamal Murray a whole lot of attention from the jump, and Denver’s point guard still managed to produce. Murray scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half, once Brooklyn stopped doubling him with the same intensity. He dished out eight assists in each half to set a new career high with 16 against four turnovers. He also grabbed six rebounds, which tied with Gordon for the team-high. The 3-point shot didn’t fall with the same frequency it has for much of the season. But Murray, who’s been playing through a sprained ankle, still finished 11 of 23 from the field with six of those misses coming on seven attempts from 3-point range. He played just under 40 minutes on the first leg of a back-to-back set.

NETS 127, NUGGETS 115

What happened: Brooklyn started the second quarter ahead by four and led 59-52 at halftime. The lead grew to 16 by the end of the third quarter, and Denver dropped to 23-12 after losing four of five to start the road trip.

What went right: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 26 points, going 5 for 10 from 3-point range and 7 of 9 on free throws, while Peyton Watson scored more than 20 points for a third consecutive game, finishing with 23.

What went wrong: Brooklyn finished the game with a 21-12 advantage in second-chance points. Denver’s starting bigs — DaRon Holmes II and Spencer Jones — each finished with one rebound, while all five of Brooklyn’s starters grabbed an offensive rebound, led by Porter’s four.

Highlight of the night: Jamal Murray’s 10th assist was his most impressive. Murray drove early in the third quarter and attracted a crowd before slipping a no-look bounce pass to Peyton Watson for a dunk.

Up next: It’s off to Philadelphia for the second half of a back-to-back set Monday against the 76ers.