A three-game losing streak heading into the All-Star Break is far in the rearview mirror; the surging Denver Nuggets have taken sole possession of first place in the Western Conference for the first time since mid-November.
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The nuggets beat the Miami Heat 100-88 at the Kaseya Center on Wednesday. Denver coach Michael Malone made it clear after the game that securing the No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs was something his team would fight hard for in the final games of the regular season.
“If we can get it, we’ll definitely take it. And we’re not going to hold back,” Malone said. “It was very effective for us last year, having a home field for the duration of the playoffs.”
The Nuggets are 10-1 since the All-Star break. They are currently 46-20 and are a half game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder and a full game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves. They play in Minnesota three more times before the end of the season.
Strong play on both ends of the court in the closing stages of their games has been the formula for success for Denver recently.
“We always say your fourth quarter has to be your best,” Malone said. “It’s closing time.”
