The Nuggets Have 2 Monster Games On Deck

The Nuggets will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight—the first of two in this litmus test. There are two things I am looking for in this game.

Can Denver stay competitive? In their first matchup against the Thunder earlier this month, the game got away from them in the third quarter. The first thing is to keep the game close in the fourth quarter.

The next thing is, can they win down the stretch? The Nuggets are 14-15 in clutch games this year, which is unlike them. The duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray has made them historically unstoppable in the last five minutes.

The way Denver gave Oklahoma City a competitive playoff series last year was by stealing games in the end. With the Nuggets’ inability to blow out this team, winning in the clutch is the only way they are going to get it done.

There’s no better way to exorcise the clutch demons this year than going to the defending champ’s house and executing. A win here wouldn’t solve all the problems, as the Thunder have many injuries right now. Shai Gilegous-Alexander, however, is back, so this win would have immense validity if Denver were to pull it off.

Oklahoma City was playing well before SGA’s return, so no win on the Nuggets’ part can be sneezed at. Can they pull it off?

Rival Comes To Town

Denver hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second game. This game is always a big game for both teams, no matter what. It has grown into the sport’s most popular rivalry at the moment.

For the Nuggets in particular, a win would cap off a regular-season sweep over Minnesota. A moment of revenge for what was done last year, as the Timberwolves won all four regular-season games last year.

The previous game between these two teams was a thriller. Denver prevailed on Christmas in overtime, 142-138, in a high-scoring overtime. That was an example of the Nuggets working their magic in the clutch as they trailed by nine in the extra period.

The last two games these two teams faced in Ball Arena were thrillers. Minnesota won in double overtime in the first one, and then the second one was the game mentioned above. There’s no reason to believe the third game will be any different.

End Of My Denver Nuggets Rant

This weekend isn’t just about achieving 2-0. This weekend feels like a chance to reset. After a 20-6 start, a mix of injuries and poor play in the clutch has led to a 17-16 record since.

This team on paper should not be a .500 ball club. Denver needs to assert itself as a legit contender as we hit the final stretch of the season. Teams like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons , and Boston Celtics are playing their best ball right now.

It’s time for the Nuggets to join the party. The team has a little bit of momentum right now after a 103-84 win over a Celtics team that won nine of its last ten entering that game. The big question is, can they hold on to the momentum?

The last time Denver won back-to-back games was the end of January. Since then, they’ve had a three-game losing streak followed by a seesaw of wins and losses. It’s time to string a couple here, get the mojo back.