The keys to the Denver Nuggets' terrible moment

The Denver Nuggets have not been the same since they let a crucial victory slip away against their great rival: the Minnesota Timberwolves. That game on April 2, which ended with a tight 140-139 score in double overtime, marked the start of a worrying drop in performance.

Denver seemed to have the win in their hands when Russell Westbrook missed an uncontested layup that could have sealed the game. Shortly after, he fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker on a three-pointer with one-tenth of a second left and the Nuggets leading by one point. Alexander-Walker made both free throws, securing the Timberwolves' sixth consecutive victory over the Nuggets, ruining the most prolific night in Nikola Jokic's career, who scored 61 points.

Since then, Denver has lost three more games. The next day, they fell to San Antonio without any of their five starters, then squandered a first quarter with 44 points against Golden State, and on Sunday, despite a 13-point lead in the first half, ended up losing 125-120 to a depleted Pacers team. This negative streak marks the first time this season that Michael Malone's team has suffered four consecutive defeats.

"I don't know if I'd call it a hangover," Malone said after the latest stumble. "We were up tonight, we were up against Golden State… we just couldn't hold on. Whatever it is, we have to figure out how to get it out of our system."

Adding to this situation is the absence of point guard Jamal Murray, who has missed five straight games due to a right hamstring strain. Asked before Sunday's game about his potential return for the playoffs, Malone replied, "Hopefully, he'll be back by then."

But the real question is: in what position will Denver enter the postseason? With three games remaining, the Nuggets are holding onto the fourth spot in the West, with just half a game separating them from eighth place. The margin for error is minimal.

"We've lost four in a row, we're in a bad spot, so I think we're a little down," Jokic acknowledged. "But a win can always lift our spirits or make us feel better."

Christian Braun, who posted a career-high of 30 points against Indiana, had an unfortunate mishap getting tangled with Jokic in a crucial turnover with only 15 seconds on the clock and Denver trailing by two. Despite this, he maintains faith in the team: "If we make it to the playoffs, I know we can compete with anyone. We have to enter with momentum, playing the right way and with more toughness. We need to come together as a team in these remaining three games. This is not over, but we do need to gain some momentum."

Denver will close out the regular season with three crucial games: they visit Sacramento on Wednesday, host Memphis on Friday, and conclude in Houston on Sunday. Their playoff positioning will depend on these matchups, determining whether they start the playoffs on the right foot… or fall into the perilous play-in territory.

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