Two aces in the hole is mathematically the best starting hand in poker. That's what the Nuggets could theoretically be holding as they embark on the final 16 games of the season. Key victories over their Western Conference playoff counterparts and their sudden return to near full-strength, plus the return of Peyton Watson, gives the Nuggets an advantage over their peers as the playoffs draw near.
Through the ups and the downs, the Nuggets have found just the right way to mathematically ensure that they've got the tiebreaker against each of their neighbors in the Western Conference standings. They've won all the right games amid a slide from two to six in the standings, and they can make it an even four for four with a win in Los Angeles against the third-place Lakers.
The Nuggets hold the tie-breaker over the Houston Rockets, who they just beat by 36 in Denver, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Phoenix Suns, who are currently occupying the seventh position where the play-in danger zone looms. With all five teams separated by just 2.5 games, every advantage counts for playoff seeding.
Nuggets have their starting five back
Mid-November was the last time the Nuggets had their starting five from opening night on the floor together at the same time before Aaron Gordon finally returned to action. They're now 9-4 when the whole starting five is together, and they're 18-8 with Aaron Gordon in the lineup.
And three games back into the experiment, the results have finally come around to what Nuggets fans remember was cooking before the injury bug started biting everyone.
Sure, Gordon laid an egg and didn't score in the blowout win against the Rockets, but that should be the scary part for opposing teams. When the Nuggets are clicking and playing defense, they're a dangerous squad.
It was illustrated by holding the Rockets to 93 points. That's just the fourth time this season they've held an opponent under 100 points. The Nuggets held Kevin Durant to 11 points and only eight shot attempts. It was one of the more complete games of the season.
Peyton Watson is nearing his return
And they're about to get Peyton Watson back next week. Watson's return has taken a little longer than Nuggets fans would have liked, but it's at least on the horizon.
That means an instant boost at both ends of the floor. Watson was averaging 21.4 points per game in the 19 games before he went down with a grade 2 hamstring injury.
They may not be at the poker table, but the cards are adding up for more success than not for the Nuggets as the playoff race winds down.