3 things to watch: Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons

The Denver Nuggets lost a bad one in Indiana last time out, but they’re back at Pepsi Center to face the Pistons. Here are 3 things to watch.

Last time out the Denver Nuggets missed a huge opportunity. A loss to the Pacers put them back behind the Golden State Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference.

And while they have a tough slate — the fourth-hardest remaining, according to Tankathon — they still have time.

10 games to go. The first coming against a struggling Detroit Pistons team who — behind the Wizards and Timberwolves — are probably Denver’s easiest opponents.

Here are 3 things to keep an eye on as the Nuggets try to get back on track.

How will the Nuggets respond from Sunday?

The Nuggets have had their fair share of tough losses — a 142-111 loss to Golden State on Jan. 15.

But the 36-point loss to Indiana has to be towards the top.

Denver looked sluggish — physically and mentally — and didn’t seem to have much motivation to pick up a seventh-straight win.

Granted, it was the Nuggets third game in four days on an Eastern Conference road trip — a trip in which Denver clinched its first playoff seed since 2013.

They’ll need to pick it up if they want to get back in the win column against the Pistons — who are struggling in their own right.

Speaking of which…

How will Detroit look after two-straight losses?

Coming into last week, Detroit was almost a lock for the playoffs. It would take Orlando or Charlotte nearly winning out, plus a pretty bad collapse by the Pistons.

Well, both have started to pan out. The Magic have won four straight — including a big win over Philadelphia Monday.

But it’s still likely the Pistons make the postseason. They still have a 1.5 game lead over the Magic and a three game lead over Charlotte.

But, with a games left against the Nuggets, Blazers, Pacers and Thunder, the Pistons don’t have the easiest stretch.

How will both respond after the beatdown the Pistons put on Denver last time?

The last time these to played, it wasn’t the Nuggets finest hour. The 129-103 walloping was the first of three-straight losses in a particularly bad stretch for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets couldn’t stop Blake Griffin — who put up 17 points and seven rebounds in just 23 minutes. But, Denver was without Paul Millsap — who has been crucial, especially of late.

This year, the Nuggets have had a bad habit of compounding losses. They’ve had three streaks of three games or more and a handful of back-to-back losses.

Hopefully, they can end this skid at one game.