Nuggets game day: Denver winning all sorts of ways entering showdown against Portland

The longest winning streak of the Michael Malone era in Denver could not have come at a better time. The Nuggets’ playoff hopes were on life support after they dropped back-to-back games to the 76ers and Raptors on the road. But after rattling off five consecutive wins, Denver now only needs two more to guarantee itself a postseason spot.

The streak started with wild overtime shootouts against the Thunder and Bucks. It continued with grind-it-out wins over the Pacers and Timberwolves. On Saturday, the Nuggets played one of their most complete games of the season in a 134-115 beatdown of the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver has clawed back into the playoff picture by winning rock fights and shootouts — displaying a malleability it didn’t possess before.

“We’re playing get-it-done basketball,” Malone said. “We’re getting it done.”

The next test comes Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers (7 p.m., Altitude). The Trail Blazers have already secured a playoff spot. They’re fighting to stay in third. Utah is a game behind Portland with only two games remaining in both team’s regular seasons.

The Trail Blazers have cooled off since ripping off a 13-game win streak that lasted more than a month. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 games and are looking to snap a three-game skid against Denver.

The Nuggets are 2-1 against the Trail Blazers this season. They last met Jan. 22. Jamal Murray exploded for a career-high 38 points as Denver won 104-101. Will Barton went 0-7 from the field in that game. He’ll have the chance to make up for that rough outing against his former team.

Barton scored 31 points on 11-15 shooting Saturday. It was one of his most efficient games of the season. He’s done an admirable job of filling in at the starting shooting guard spot for Gary Harris, who sprained his right knee March 15 against the Detroit Pistons. Harris, who is listed as doubtful, is expected to miss his 12th game in a row.

The Nuggets are 7-4 without Harris. They’re averaging 114.6 points per 100 possessions in that stretch — the second-best mark in basketball. In the last three games, they’re also doing a better job on the defensive end.

“I think we’re playing our best overall basketball,” Paul Millsap said. “Not necessarily the best offense that we’ve played all year, not necessarily the best defense, but to be a really good team you’ve got to have good balance. Now especially coming down the stretch, we have a good balance. Offense and defense. That’s what we need. We can’t just be one-sided.”

Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

Trail Blazers Projected Starters

Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Evan Turner, Al Farouq-Aminu, Jusuf Nurkic