CHICAGO -- The plan was to treat the end of the preseason as though it were the regular season.
Mission accomplished.

The Denver Nuggets were in regular-season form Friday night against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

The Nuggets were on the road, so they lost.

The regular season starts Tuesday in Phoenix.

"I don't think we'll put too much stock in that (game)," Nuggets coach Dan Issel said.