The Denver Nuggets missed a huge opportunity against Indiana

A big loss at the Indiana Pacers Sunday ended a six-game win streak for the Denver Nuggets. But with Golden State stumbling Saturday, it was also a huge missed opportunity.

There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. The Denver Nuggets missed a huge opportunity Sunday.

With a 124-88 loss to the Pacers, the Nuggets not only fell back to even with the Warriors in the loss column, but also snapped a six-game win streak.

Coming into the day, the Nuggets held their first Western Conference lead in over two months. The Warriors opened the door with a loss to Dallas Mavericks Saturday.

And with Golden State winning Sunday, they re-took the half-game lead they had before the weekend.

They Nuggets aren’t going to win them all. And after six wins, they’re probably due for a loss.

But it really couldn’t have come at a worse time. This was the best the Nuggets have looked in the Western Conference standings in a while.

And with the playoffs less than a month away, every games is that much more important. The Nuggets have just 10 games left to play.

The No. 1 seed would be huge for Denver. It’s will almost be as much about pride as the home court advantage in the Western Conference Finals, but that extra game at Pepsi Center can’t be discounted.

Especially depending on matchups. The fifth through eighth seeds in the West are basically a toss up — and will likely stay that way.

And a No. 1 seed will all but ensure the Nuggets won’t have to see the Rockets before the Conference Finals — and likely not at all since they would have to beat the Warriors to get there.

So this loss to Indiana will go one of two ways.

Either it sticks with them and they dwell on it — which wouldn’t be good with games against Houston and Oklahoma City coming up.

Or it sticks with them and they build off it — hopefully propelling them to the top seed out West.