There was little doubt to Nuggets coach Michael Malone that any chance of a turnaround in his second season would have to begin within his team’s own division.
This isn’t the NFL, where nearly half a team’s games are played against bitter division rivals, but winning only four of 16 Northwest Division games, as the Nuggets did a season ago, tends to be a roadblock on any postseason path.
The Nuggets continued to make progress against their so-called rivals Tuesday night, defeating the Utah Jazz 103-93 at the Pepsi Center.
The victory was the fifth in the seven games for Denver, which improved its Northwest record to 5-7, one more victory than it had a season ago.