Head coach Michael Malone believes the Nuggets will have an abbreviated stay in the postseason if they don’t improve defensively, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.
“If we’re going to be a team that is serious about making the postseason and being a team that can win a round, win another round,” Malone said, “if we don’t start defending for four quarters, we’re never gonna get that opportunity.”
The Nuggets are averaging the third-most points in the league. However, they rank in the bottom 10 — 24th overall — in points allowed at 116.7 per game. They’re in the middle of the pack in defensive field goal percentage and 21st in defensive three-point percentage. They’re also in the bottom 10 in turnovers forced.
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Their outing on Monday was encouraging. The Nuggets sat three starters — Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun — but still ended the Warriors’ winning streak with a 114-105 victory. Aaron Gordon poured in a season-high 38 points and Russell Westbrook was solid all-around with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists and three steals. Malone had high praise for the veteran guard afterward, Tim MacMahon of ESPN relays. “I felt from the get-go Russ’ tenacity, his intensity, what he brings every single night,” Malone said. “Just being a leader in the huddles, getting on guys, uplifting guys, whatever is needed at the time. That’s why Russ has been such a great addition to us all season long.” Westbrook could be a free agent after the season — he holds a modest $3.47MM option on his contract for next season.
- The Nuggets have banked 44 victories but they’ve been in a win-one, lose-one rut most of this month. In the last three games, they sandwiched victories over the Lakers and Warriors with a home loss to the lottery-bound Wizards. “I think the entire season has pretty much been like this,” Jokic told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “We kind of don’t know what team is going to go out there. Some nights have been good, and some nights have been bad. I think the good thing is that we have actually won most of the games.”
- Gordon is listed as probable to play against the Lakers on Wednesday due to right calf injury management and a left ankle sprain, the team’s PR department tweets. Jokic (right elbow contusion/left ankle impingement), Murray (right ankle sprain) and Braun (left foot inflammation) are all listed as questionable.