DENVER — The Nuggets, with just 12 games remaining in the regular season, have now entered their final stretch before either preparing for the playoffs or the upcoming NBA Draft. Four home games remain in the final 12 games of the season and it has become paramount to secure home victories with the Portland Trail Blazers nipping at the Nuggets’ heels for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets have the monster test of taking on LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love (who will all play Wednesday) in one of their final four home games with just a single game lead over the Trail Blazers. On paper, the Cavaliers are as tough of a matchup for Denver as any team the Nuggets desperately need to find a way to start fast and finish strong against the reigning NBA Champions.

Regular season game No. 71 | Denver Nuggets (33-37) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (46-23)

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

Limiting the Cavaliers big runs

As is an issue when defending the majority of the upper echelon teams, three-point defense will be another big aspect of the Nuggets’ matchup with the Cavaliers. Cleveland is currently attempting the second-most threes per game in the league (33.8), are shooting the second-highest percentage from beyond the arc (38.8 percent), and have made the second most threes in the league so far this season (905).

“When you have guys like (Kyle) Korver, JR (Smith), (Channing) Frye, and the list goes on all day,” Malone said at shootaround before taking on the Cavaliers. “They have like ten guys shooting 37 percent or better and are taking volume threes.”

If Denver has any hope at upsetting the defending NBA champions they need to limit them from behind the arc. If Cleveland’s three-point shooting can be tamed, it will be harder for them to rip off huge runs that eventually could spell doom for the Nuggets.

“They can bust a game open in a heart beat. That is where poise comes in,” Malone explained. “If they hit two or four threes in a row can we take it a possession and not let go of the rope and keep on fighting and keep on fighting to get back into the game? That is our challenge tonight. It is a heck of a challenge and hopefully, we can respond to that.”

Denver does have a tendency to play up to their opponents’ talent level. They have won games they should have had no chance in and Malone hopes that trend continues tonight.

“I think that our guys rise to the occasion. We have also had very good fan support as of late which is outstanding and we appreciate that,” Malone said. “The big picture right now, that our guys also understand, is that with 12 games to go every game matters, every quarter matters, and, quite frankly, every possession matters. Tonight is a great opportunity to measure ourselves against one of the bets teams in the NBA and the reigning world champions. So we will be ready for that challenge.”

James and Jokic

There was a cool moment at shootaround when James was asked about Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic. The Most Valuable Player candidate talked about Jokic’s passing and competitiveness and even added on that Jokic reminds him of himself to a degree. Once Malone, who coached LeBron from 2005-10, was asked about that comparison he had the following to say:

“I think that the one comparison that LeBron touched on is that they are both willing playmakers. I think that LeBron and Nikola get more joy out of making a play for their teammate then they do for themselves. I always learned from my father that great players make everyone around him better. LeBron has done that his whole career and I think Nikola Jokic does the same thing. He makes every one of his teammates better. He is competitive and obviously, Nikola is still young and learning how to channel that emotion and competitiveness and not letting it get himself into trouble at times which he does getting into foul trouble sometimes but yes, two great young playmakers and if Nikola is compared to LeBron James that is a heck of a comparison.”

Playoff Outlook

The race for the eighth and final playoff spot is becoming tighter by the day. After Denver dropped back-to-back games to the Houston Rockets, their lead was just a half-game until Portland kicked off their four-game homestand with a loss to the surging Milwaukee Bucks.

That leaves Denver with a full one-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers and a three-game lead over the 10th seeded Dallas Mavericks. Neither the Trail Blazers or Mavericks play tonight. On Thursday, Portland hosts the Knicks while the Mavericks host the Los Angeles Clippers.

Footnotes

After missing the last four games, Wilson Chandler (right groin contusion)  participated in shootaround and, according to Malone, will try and play tonight against the Cavaliers. With Denver’s lack of depth on the wing, it’s a welcomed sight to see Chandler return to the rotation.

Danilo Gallinari (left knee bone bruise) will miss his fourth consecutive game. He has been progressing but is not able to play yet.

Darrell Arthur (left knee soreness) is probable after missing four straight games. He is expected to play tonight against the Cavaliers.