The Nuggets 12 days ago hit what could be considered the deepest valley in an up-and-down start to their season.
The 112-92 loss at the lowly on Dec. 12 was the sixth in eight games and dropped the Nuggets seven games below .500. Since, the Nuggets had won three consecutive home games entering Friday night’s game against the , and the turnaround that has existed in that limited window has come as a result of Denver going back to the drawing board.
“Making the simple play was really something we preached after that loss in Dallas,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “We tried to force feed and play in tight spaces in that game. We (committed) 16 turnovers for 27 points that led to that loss. We came home and said, ‘Let’s understand who we’re playing, how we’re being guarded, what’s available and just make the simple play.’ ”
The increased production when it comes to ball security has started, as it often does, at the point guard spot. During the recent three home wins over the Portland Trail Blazers, the and the Mavericks, had 16 assists and only six turnovers. That’s a marked improvement over his 1.36 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season.
“I think Emmanuel Mudiay has done a much better job than he did in the first couple weeks of the season at valuing the basketball,” Malone said. “The other thing is changing the lineup. We have five capable playmakers on the floor. We play through (Nikola) Jokic a ton, and he has a very high assist rate for a center. And it’s contagious. When the ball moves, everybody’s getting good shots.”
Improved movement in this recent stretch has helped the Nuggets reduce turnovers overall. Denver ranks 26th in the league at 16 turnovers per game, but it has averaged only 12.1 during the three-game home win streak.
Footnotes. Entering Friday’s game against the Hawks, the Nuggets had hit 10 or more 3-pointers in each of its last three home games. … is one of only six players in the NBA who average at least six free-throw attempts per game while shooting 87 percent or better. Galinari is averaging 6.1 attempts and is shooting 87.1 percent.
