Nuggets coach Michael Malone was careful not to attach too much importance to game No. 35 on a cold January night. But there was no escaping the fact it was a game being played against a team fighting with the Nuggets for the eighth playoff spot.
“There’s a lot of games left to be played,” Malone said. “It’s there, but it’s not our sole focus. … Obviously, we play them three more times and I’m sure as the year goes on those games will get a little more important. It’s definitely mentioned, we put the league standings up all the time.