Game Results

Denver Nuggets 125, Chicago Bulls 107

Recap
Stats
Highlights

Denver Nuggets 110, Milwaukee Bucks 98

Recap
Stats
Highlights

Charlotte Hornets 112, Denver Nuggets 102

Recap
Stats
Highlights

Power Rankings

ESPN (Marc Stein)

Current: 19
Last week: 17

The thought pops into my head every time I look at the standings: How much is Denver going to kick itself for that 3-8 record in games decided by three points or fewer if it fails to hold onto the No. 8 spot in the West? Only the Knicks have more one-possession defeats (nine), with Charlotte (0-8) and Minnesota (4-8) also wincing uncontrollably any time someone brings up that category. The cure for that in the Rocky Mountains, though, is simply bringing up Nikola Jokic, who is suddenly up to four triple-doubles for the season, good for the highest single-season total for any Nugget since famed triple-double artist Fat Lever's five in 1989-90. Jokic turned 22 on Feb. 19 and had three of those triple-doubles in February. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three players in league history have managed three triple-doubles in a single month at a younger age: Oscar Robertson (1960-61), Magic Johnson (1980-81) and Lamar Odom (2000-01). All three of those guys were 21.

NBA (John Schuhmann)

Current: 16
Last week: 18

There was a time when the altitude of Denver was a real home-court advantage. But the Nuggets are just 75-79 at the Pepsi Center over the last four seasons, 16-15 this season after Saturday's loss to Charlotte. Now's the time to get that home-court advantage back, because six of their next seven games are at home and they're still just a game in the loss column ahead of the ninth-place Blazers. After recording two straight triple-doubles, Nikola Jokic shot 13-for-15 against the Hornets, but his fellow starters shot 9-for-33 and the Denver defense didn't hold up after after a couple of solid games on the road.

Sport’s Illustrated (Jeremy Woo)

Current: 17
Last week: 17

Denver’s hold on the No. 8 seed is looking a little tenuous these days, but there’s no clear adversary really coming for it, either. The Nuggets are up a game and a half on the Blazers, and there are five teams within 3.5 games of them. This March scramble between six streaky contenders will be interesting…but maybe not that interesting.

CBS Sports (Matt Moore)

Current: 21
Last week: 18

Denver realistically only needs one stretch where it wins 7 of 10 to clinch a playoff spot, but the Nuggets are very unlikely to get it. Their schedule is difficult and they are maddeningly inconsistent. Nikola Jokic is a savant, however.

Podcasts

Locked on Nuggets: Joker is back, great team win in Chicago

Locked on Nuggets: The ball was popping!

Locked on Nuggets: Charlotte’s interesting adjustment and a locker room controversy

Pickaxe Podcast: Jokic triple double, Mudiay’s future and the resurgence of Gallo and Chandler

Articles

The desperate search for a worthy NBA Rookie of the Year
Rodger Sherman, The Ringer

Ten things I like and don’t like, including silly Nikola Jokic fouls
Zach Lowe, ESPN

Nikola Jokic emerges as threat to swipe top spot on Stein’s Most Improved ballot
Marc Stein, ESPN

Beyond Basketball: A conversation with Jamal Murray on hip-hop, meditation, Kentucky and family (Part One)
Beyond Basketball: Jamal Murray on John Calipari, meditation and more (Part Two)
T.J. McBride, BSN Denver

The West is about to get wild
Taylor Griffin, GM Hoops

The secret formula behind Gary Harris’ success from three
Harrison Wind, BSN Denver

Gary Harris looks like the Nuggets’ shooting guard of the future
Christian Clark, Denverite

Pride of country powerful driving force for rising Nuggets star Nikola Jokic
Nick Kosmider, Denver Post

Quick fall of Nuggets’ 3-point record illustrates quick rise of NBA’s long-range trend
Nick Kosmider, Denver Post

No thank you: George Karl’s curious book complicates a complex legacy
Ric Bucher, Bleacher Report