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Denver Nuggets: It doesn’t get any easier from here

By Chris Bolin

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 8: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 8: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA — including five against Western Conference playoff teams.

OK, I guess immediately it does. Following a back-to-back at Houston and Oklahoma City, the Denver Nuggets get a bit of a reprieve hosting the Wizards.

But then they start the gauntlet. And the first one will be the toughest — and may be the most important.

On April 2, they head to Oracle to face the back-to-back defending champions. And if both win out, the two will be tied. The Nuggets face the Wizards and the Warriors face the Hornets before.

Denver will have to be looking for redemption — if not to just prove themselves.

The last time the two played March 8, the Warriors easily won 122-105. The time before that Jan. 15, the Warriors embarrassed the Nuggets at Pepsi Center 142-111. It would hurt more if we haven’t watched them do that to everybody for the past four years.

After that, the Nuggets get the Spurs — who just beat Denver in San Antonio March 4. But this one will be at Pepsi Center, and the Spurs haven’t even been close to as good on the road.

The Spurs are just 14-24 away from home, compared to 30-8 in the friendly confines of AT&T Center.

After the Spurs, the Nuggets stay in the Mile High City for the first half of a home-and-home with the Trail Blazers.

Then naturally, they head to Portland for the second half of that same home-and-home.

The Nuggets are 2-0 against the Blazers so far this season. And Portland will be without Jusuf Nurkic — who left a game against Brooklyn with a gruesome leg injury and won’t return this season.

Nurkic was having a breakout season before the injury — averaging 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

After that, Denver heads to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz — who hold the 2-1 advantage in the season series.

The last time the two played, the Jazz held off a late Nuggets rally to hold on and win 111-104.

And finally, the Nuggets close their season against a Minnesota Timberwolves team who fell so far short of expectations this season.

Coming into the season, this was expected to have at least seeding ramifications — a lot like last year’s season finale.But a lot of drama and a few bad personnel decisions caught up to the T-Wolves this year.

All-in-all, the Nuggets have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule, according to Tankathon.

But they have just a 12-10 record against Western Conference playoff teams — which isn’t bad overall but should be better for a possible No. 1 seed.

Before topping OKC Friday, the Nuggets hadn’t beaten a playoff team since the last time they played the Thunder — going 0-4 since, losing to the Jazz, Spurs, Warriors and Rockets.

Related Story. Nikola Jokic’s case for first-team All-NBA. light

They’ll have five chances to change that down the stretch — and hopefully at least a couple series to prove it in the playoffs.

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