Denver Nuggets: The perfect time for a few days off

The Denver Nuggets have been caught in a rough patch. So this three-day vacation couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Denver Nuggets haven’t exactly been in tip top form lately. They’ve lost four of their last five — including a loss to a Pelicans team without Anthony Davis.

But luckily, just about every other team at the top of the Western Conference — besides the Rockets — has been struggling, too.

The Nuggets 6-4 mark in their last 10 games is ahead of both the Warriors (4-6) and the Thunder (3-7).

That’s why Denver has been able to stay just 1.5 games back of the Warriors for the top spot and 2.5 games ahead of the Rockets for second.

And with just 17 games remaining, it’s a good time for this Nuggets team to take a deep breath and press the reset button.

It just happens they have a nice three-day vacation built into their schedule. The Nuggets haven’t played since Friday’s loss to the Warriors and won’t take the floor again until Tuesday’s matchup vs. Minnesota.

The Nuggets won’t have three-consecutive days off again until the playoffs start. Once they jump back in, they will face the ninth-toughest remaining schedule — including contests against the Warriors, Pacers and Rockets.

Three-days rest is important. Almost as important is an opportunity to practice this late in the season — when practices are few and far between as keeping players fresh becomes more important.

The bench unit looked about as good as it has the past couple weeks against the Warriors. Malone said if “it weren’t for the bench unit, it would have been a 50-point game.”

But it still has a long way to go — especially if Isaiah Thomas is going to play a meaningful role. But just as important will be getting Monte Morris and Malik Beasley back to playing like they were a few weeks ago.

Hopefully the Nuggets will look re-energized after this break. Up first, The Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday at Pepsi Center.