The Nuggets have played five games since Jamaal Murray got hurt on March 26th. They beat the Jazz because, well, they’re the Jazz, but since then, they have lost four straight games in which they were favored. The Kings have gone the other way, winning three straight, including their last two when they were 9.5-point dogs to the Cavs and catching 6.5 from Detroit. Denver is 20th in points allowed, giving up 117 ppg, which is the worst mark for any team with a winning record. We’ve seen that lack of defense in their four-game skid, giving up 124 ppg in that stretch. Both of these teams are in the crazy playoff chase in the West, with the Kings holding a one-game advantage over the Mavs for the home play-in game, while the Nugs are in 4th, but just one game separates them from the 8-seed. Finally, Denver just fired Michael Malone, the winningest coach in the NBA over the last five seasons, including winning it all just two seasons ago. This team is just 11-13 since the AS break, and interim coach David Adelman is going to have his hands full getting this team back on track.