Are the Denver Nuggets working to avoid the Houston Rockets in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs?
Many thought so when the team rested three starters and pulled two more during the fourth quarter during Sunday’s 115-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
But head coach Mike Malone says otherwise.
“We’re not trying to avoid anybody. We’re not scared of anybody. We’re not going to run from anybody,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
After beating Denver on Sunday, Portland is No. 4 and1 1/2 games behind Houston at No. 3 with two games remaining in the regular season. If the standings finish this way, the No. 2 Nuggets would play either the No. 3 or No. 6 seed if they advance to the second round.
Denver (53-27) is just a half-game game ahead of Houston, which finishes their regular season Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nuggets play the Jazz and Timberwolves Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
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