Takeaways from the Nuggets' loss in Houston: Should we be concerned?

That was maybe the most depressing game the Nuggets have played this season.

On regular rest in Houston against the worst team in the West — the Rockets had lost eight of nine heading into Tuesday night with that one win coming against the also-tanking Pistons — the Nuggets no-showed with the No. 1 seed right there for the taking.

It was a calamity of errors for Denver. The Nuggets turned the ball over 20 times. It was the second time since Jan. 1 that Denver registered 20 or more turnovers in a game — the other was in Minnesota back in February when the Nuggets were without four of five starters. Nikola Jokic, who returned from a three-game absence due to calf tightness, registered eight turnovers and looked disinterested for most of the night. Denver shot 11-36 (30.6%) from 3-point range. The Nuggets lost their starting point guard to an injury in the first half. I could keep going.

Here are my takeaways from the 124-103 loss.

How concerning was this game?

Should we really have been that surprised by the Nuggets’ effort in Houston? The truth is Denver has been a mediocre team for a while now. Remember that marquee, statement, convincing victory at home over the Grizzlies back on March 3 that gave the Nuggets a near un-chokeable lead for the No. 1 seed? Since then, the Nuggets are 7-8 with the NBA’s 26th-best offense and 15th-best defense.

If you’re a flip-the-switch truther with this team, you’re not panicking. If you aren’t, then you’re currently sounding the alarms. I’m more of the former. I’ve been settling on the take that when this team has something to play for, Jokic rises to the occasion, embraces the challenge, and his teammates follow his lead like we’ve seen this season. This was another example of the Nuggets not really caring. There have been several of those with this group.

But that’s what makes this loss extra frustrating. The Nuggets did have something to play for.

A win would have locked in the No. 1 seed in the West. And it felt like the Nuggets came into this game planning to get a victory. Jokic played. Jamal Murray, who’s been battling a thumb injury, played. The entire starting lineup played. I wonder if the thought was that Denver would get this win, and then slowly shut everyone down and rest over its final three regular season games. It looked like the Nuggets thought they’d win just by showing up.

Denver could still clinch the No. 1 seed if Memphis loses Wednesday night on the second night of its back-to-back in New Orleans. A Grizzlies loss also clinches the No. 1 seed for the Nuggets. But that’s not the way you wanted this to happen.

Jamal Murray reaggravates his thumb injury

Murray’s thumb has been bothering him for a bit. That’s been obvious watching him play the last couple of games. After Murray logged 41 minutes in the Nuggets’ win over the Warriors on Sunday, he answered postgame questions at the podium in a brace over his right hand. He’s played with tape around his right thumb against the Warriors and now the Rockets.

Murray, who was on the injury report and listed as probable for Tuesday, logged nine total minutes. He started the game and played the first five minutes of the first quarter. He then re-entered at the 1:57 mark of the first, played out the quarter, and stayed on the court for the first 2 1/2 minutes of the second. After a timeout, he subbed out, went to the locker room, and didn’t return.

This looked like when Murray aggravated the injury.

This is an injury the Nuggets definitely don’t want to be worrying about going forward. I would think Denver keeps Murray out of the lineup with how easily it looks like it can be re-injured.

The bench still is uncertain

The Nuggets’ second unit is in flux again after Zeke Nnaji’s injury. Michael Malone said on Tuesday that the knee sprain he’s dealing with isn’t season-ending, which is good news considering the bench with Nnaji had actually played some OK basketball as of late.

Without Nnaji, it looks like the Nuggets are mostly going to small ball. That’s how out Malone is on trade deadline acquisition Thomas Bryant. Against the Rockets, Denver used combinations of Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jeff Green and Peyton Watson as its backup 4 and 5 — DeAndre Jordan did play three minutes in the second quarter too. He was on the floor to help aid the Nuggets’ rebounding effort, which will be a huge question mark with an undersized bench.

The Rockets recorded 20 offensive rebounds Tuesday. Twelve came with Jokic off the floor and against Denver’s bench (a couple of those came in garbage time.) Porter staggered with the bench in the second half to give that group more rebounding, but it looked like that lineup still missed Nnaji’s presence.

Peyton Watson flashes again

Watson makes rookie mistakes, which is the main reason why I don’t see him as a part of the playoff rotation right now, but for a third-straight game, he absolutely flashed.

Watson hit one 3-pointer. He registered one dunk. He had two gorgeous transition finishes. He finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Watson’s one block against the Rockets gives him six blocks in his last three games — the only three games this season he’s been in the rotation for.

I hope we keep getting a look at Watson in Denver’s last three games. In the postseason, I see him being used as a situational player who can inject some life into a playoff game if the Nuggets need it.