To get to where they want to go, the Nuggets are going to have to change the company they keep.
After the All-Star break, Denver’s defensive rating, or points allowed per 100 possessions, is 116.9. That ranks 24th in the NBA. The only teams with worse defensive ratings are the Bulls, Nets, Pelicans, Kings, Wizards and Jazz. That’s six teams more concerned with lottery odds than championship hopes.
“Defensively, we’ve got to be better, and we know that. I think that will come with the proper depth and guys playing their normal minutes. That will take some time here, but I just think we’ve just got to continue to be us. There’s a lot of positives. We talked about that today,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after Wednesday’s practice at Ball Arena.
“Our offense has been elite throughout the year. Our defense has been up and down, so if we can find a happy medium there, obviously, we’ll be a very dangerous team.”
The Nuggets head into Thursday’s game against the Clippers with the league’s best offensive rating, 121, despite playing a stretch of the season without the offensive engine that is Nikola Jokic. Boston’s the only other team with an offensive rating above 119, but the defense drags Denver’s net rating down to ninth behind the Thunder, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves and Cavaliers.
“We’ve been really successful offensively. Now, we’ve got to turn that into being more successful defensively. We’re capable,” center Jonas Valanciunas said.
“That’s our focus. It’s on us to do it.”
So, how do they do it? Allow the big Lithuanian to explain.
“Being physical,” Valanciunas said.
“Look in the mirror, bring your heart, bring your muscles and bring your balls.”
Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) looks to pass the ball under pressure from Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett (24) and Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver’s defense was operating at a higher level earlier in the season before a string of injuries took their toll. Christian Braun played in just 19 of Denver’s 55 games before the break, while Aaron Gordon played in 23. Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones took on larger roles when two of the team’s best defenders were sidelined, but Watson suffered a hamstring injury right before the break, while Jones is ineligible to play any more games on his two-way contract. Jones’s status could change before Thursday’s game.
After trading Hunter Tyson to Brooklyn at the trade deadline, the Nuggets have only 13 players on standard contracts. The NBA allows teams to carry 13 players for two weeks, and Denver’s up against the deadline to convert Jones’ deal to a standard contract or add another player via the buyout market.
“It’s a conversation that we’re going to have when we land in L.A. There’s a lot of moving pieces there,” Adelman said. “Obviously, what Spencer has done for us this year has been beyond a small impact. The guy has started a million games for us. He’s guarding some of the best players in the league. He’s a big part of what we’ve done.”
Despite the longest absence of Jokic’s career and a series of other impactful injuries, Denver starts the final third of the season third in the Western Conference. Sitting 6.5 games behind Oklahoma City, the No. 1 seed is likely out of reach, while San Antonio’s three-and-a-half games clear of Denver in second. There’s not much margin for error, as Houston is a game behind Denver in fourth, while the Lakers and Timberwolves are a half game behind Houston to round out the top six.
“We’ve shown that we can be a good team. I think as we start getting guys back and get that rhythm, it can elevate that side of the ball and carry us into the playoffs,” Cam Johnson said.
“We have a lot of really good teams on the schedule coming up, so we’ll be challenged night in and night out. We know what the ultimate goal here is, and we have guys that have accomplished that goal and know what it takes.”