If you'd told Nuggets fans that when the calendar flipped to March, the Nuggets would be battling for the fifth spot, you'd probably guess the fifth spot in something like Marc Stein's power rankings. Nope. Fifth in the Western Conference.
And if they aren't careful in the home matchup against their bitter rivals and neighbor in the standings, they could end up looking up at the Lakers and LeBron, and everyone else they'd have to go on the road to face when the playoffs start. A proposition nobody thought could be likely when the season began.
The sixth seed should never have been a thought. But here we are, only a half-game ahead of the Lakers. The recent run of clutch losses has really added up, and the Nuggets need to course-correct over their final 20 games if they want to host a first-round matchup.
The Lakers have their eyes on a Nugget in free agency
It could also be the last game LeBron James plays in Denver, at least with the Lakers. But perhaps forever if he decides to finally retire after his jersey number, rather than chase free agency or re-sign with the Lakers. All three options are on the table this summer for the 23-year veteran.
The Lakers won't just be courting LeBron if he decides to test the free agent market. They've also been frequently mentioned via all sorts of rumors targeting Peyton Watson. He'll thankfully be restricted, and the Nuggets will have the chance to match any offer he receives.
But the Lakers' new owner has deep pockets, and he's willing to spend to win. He owns the back-to-back MLB Champion Dodgers. Not exactly a great spot for a second-apron adjacent 2026-27 Nuggets team to get into what would turn into a bidding war for the talented young star.
How will Joker's wrist respond with rest?
Nikola Jokic's wrist has clearly been bothering him. The Nuggets last played in Utah against the Jazz, and the Joker was shown while on the bench getting work performed on his wrist. Plus, he had a bag of ice resting on it, too.
It's not hurting enough to make him miss any time or show up on the injury report, but it's enough of a hindrance that it's costing him his shooting. Jokic's field goal percentage is down to 48% from a career mark of 56%, and he's shooting a sub-par 30% from three-point range.
The Joker's still 26-14-9 over his last 13 games, when he returned from a 16-game absence due to a knee injury. He's been frustrated, and he hasn't looked like what we're used to seeing out of the Joker.
There are 20 games to go. That should be enough time to get both the three-time MVP Jokic and the Nuggets back up to at least the four seed, and a home playoff round. If not, the road will just be that much more difficult.