Fifty is the new 60.
Before the season, some Nuggets said the team could win 60 games. In this Halley’s comet season in the Western Conference, the Nuggets are now shooting for 50 wins, and even that might not be enough for the playoffs.
It’s doable. Denver (43-28) has 11 games remaining, six at the Pepsi Center and four against teams with losing records (two home, two away).
No team in NBA history has won 50 games and missed the playoffs.
While a win total is a fun goal, the Nuggets’ primary goal is catching Dallas and Golden State — or both.
Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, so the Nuggets are two games behind the seventh-place Mavericks (45-26) and half a game behind the eighth-place Warriors (43-27) in the West race.
Dallas comes to the Pepsi Center on Thursday for what will be the biggest home game of the season — until Saturday, when the Warriors arrive.
The Mavericks are without reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who is out indefinitely because of a leg injury.
“They have great players, all-star players and a great coaching staff,” Denver coach George Karl said of the Mavericks, who have Jason Kidd and Josh Howard in their lineup. “Hopefully, we can get the energy and bring the fans to the Pepsi Center with an intensity we like.”
Just moments after the Nuggets’ win Monday at Memphis, while the net was still smoking from J.R. Smith’s 25 points in the fourth quarter, Karl told his team: “Every game you win makes the next game bigger, and tougher.”
Bouncing back.
Point guard Anthony Carter was lackluster in Sunday’s game at Toronto, so Karl kept him on the bench to start the second half, a rarity. But Carter played well in the win at Memphis, scoring 12 points and handing out seven assists and committing just one turnover. Karl said it was Carter’s second-half defense that jolted the Nuggets, who trailed at halftime.
Gill promoted.
Aurora native Eddie Gill is back in the NBA, following a successful stint with the Colorado 14ers of the NBA’s Developmental League. Gill signed with Seattle, playing five minutes Monday against Portland. He averaged 18.8 points for Colorado.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
