Nuggets entering must-win mode against Nets as playoff race tightens

The Denver Nuggets are looking to bounce back from a deflating loss to the new-look Kings against the struggling Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have won just one game in their last 26 contests and present a prime opportunity for Denver to continue their home-court dominance and give them their ninth win in the past 11 games at Pepsi Center.

After a quiet trade deadline, there is a lot of pressure on this current roster, that Denver has elected to stick with to produce victories. With over ten players deserving of minutes it’s difficult for Michael Malone to juggle his rotations. After coming out with little energy against the Kings, look for Michael Malone to have his team ready to take on the Nets. Denver has very little margin for error with the Kings, Trail Blazers, and Pelicans hot on their heels looking for a playoff berth of their own. Denver cannot drop two games right out of the trade deadline if they hope to hold onto the eighth seed.

Regular season game No. 58 | Denver Nuggets (25-32) vs Brooklyn Nets (9-47)

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado | 7:00 PM MST | TV: Altitude

Playing Denver Nuggets basketball

The Nuggets’ loss to the Kings was a low point of the season and it seemed that Nikola Jokic was not used nearly as much as he was prior to the All-Star break with only seven shot attempts and two assists on the night. If Denver has any chance of making the playoffs, it will be behind the play of Jokic.

While DeMarcus Cousins on the Pelicans makes Denver’s purist of a playoff spot more difficult, the Nuggets control their own fate. With Jokic leading the Nuggets’ offense Denver has been one of the best offensive units throughout the entire league. Denver needs to stick with what works on that end of the floor, continue to play the same brand basketball and keep the throttle stuck to the floor offensively.

Look for the Nuggets to make a concerted effort to play through Jokic against the Nets. If Jokic becomes relegated to a screener and a three-point shooter, then everything Denver has built since Dec. 15 will be for naught. The Nuggets have finally found their star player and they need to continue playing through him if they hope to reach the eighth seed.

Juggling minutes with a fully healthy roster

It seems that everyone on the roster will be active against Brooklyn. With the trade deadline and injuries behind them, Denver now has a new group of issues to contend with.

Everyone on the Nuggets’ roster was healthy against the Kings, which led to Emmanuel Mudiay and Darrell Arthur each not seeing any minutes as well as just a meager two minutes of playing time for Juancho Hernangomez. Juggling minutes will be Malone’s biggest issue over the rest of the season.

Mudiay’s role

Against the Kings, Jamal Murray was used as the primary backup point guard while Mudiay recorded his first DNP-CD of the year. Malone did say at practice prior to the Kings game that he was still deciding who would play the backup point guard minutes and it seems that he has made his decision decisively after Mudiay was left out of the rotation. Murray did not impress in the first game back after the All-Star break and it will be interesting how Malone’s rotations shake out Friday.

Roy Hibbert is questionable tonight against the Nets. While he is the third center on the roster and is not expected to log many minutes, he still could be in line for his debut against Brooklyn.