Nuggets at Jazz
The Denver Nuggets are suddenly engaged in a tight battle for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets were recently pushing for the No. 1 seed but are now just a half-game ahead of the third-place Houston Rockets entering Tuesday's road game against the Utah Jazz.
Denver dropped a 115-108 decision to the host Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday but is more focused on entering the postseason fresh than bagging the No. 2 seed. "We're just going to worry about ourselves," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters. "Wherever we wind up playing, if we're the No. 3 seed, great. If we can hold onto the No. 2 seed, that's great as well." Utah was making a run at No. 4 seed Portland for homecourt advantage in the probable first-round series between the clubs but fell two games back with two to play after suffering a dreadful 113-109 loss to the host Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. The stunning setback ended a stretch in which the Jazz won a season-best seven straight games and 12 of 13.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (53-27): Malone opted to rest All-Star center Nikola Jokic, veteran power forward Paul Millsap and point guard Jamal Murray on Sunday and didn't have enough firepower to stick with Portland. "They're tired. It's been a long season," Malone told reporters. "Neither of those guys -- Jamal, Paul or Nikola has sat out one game this year due to rest or load management." Shooting guard Gary Harris scored 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting after having 11 or fewer points in each of the previous eight games.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (49-31): Utah coach Quin Snyder was highly displeased after Sunday's loss as a depleted Lakers' squad outplayed and outworked his roster, including a 49-35 rebounding edge. "Regardless of where you're seeded, you have to play well and play a certain way to win," Snyder told reporters afterward. "We've won some games, so sometimes that masks some things we weren't doing well. Everyone has been talking about the winning streak, but that doesn't mean anything." Point guard Ricky Rubio (quadriceps) missed the contest and he may not return until the postseason.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nuggets have lost each of their last eight visits to Salt Lake City.
2. Utah PF Derrick Favors (back) and swingman Kyle Korver (knee) will each miss their fifth straight game.
3. Denver reserve PG Isaiah Thomas matched a season high by playing 24 minutes against Portland but was just 4-of-14 shooting for 10 points.