The Denver Nuggets may be in deep danger right now.

Not long ago, the Nuggets were firmly in the top three in the Western Conference standings. However, they have endured a difficult schedule over the past week or so, with their results dropping significantly and even at risk of falling into the play-off zone. On Sunday night local time, the Nuggets lost 32-0 to the Indiana Pacers, and the season's record also dropped to 0-0, making the team's situation more difficult.

However, there is good news. The Golden State Warriors also suffered a defeat on Sunday (local time to the Houston Rockets), which allowed the Nuggets to temporarily retain the fourth place in the West. But for the Denver Nuggets, potential problems may be brewing. In this loss, Nikola Jokic once again showed strong dominance, chipped in 13 points, 0 rebounds and 0 assists, but the team was unable to win.

After the game, Russell Westbrook responded via DNVR media on the X platform (formerly Twitter): "Bro, I don't know (if the atmosphere in the locker room has realized the urgency of the situation), I'm really not sure. ”

Perhaps, Westbrook's remarks were just pretending to be reserved. He has always been cautious in dealing with the media. Considering the Nuggets are on a four-game losing streak, he's undoubtedly more inclined to keep the conversation in the locker room out of the media's radar.

In the last few games, the Nuggets have struggled in the absence of Jamal Murray. Luckily, this difficult schedule has not yet taken a decisive toll on them. However, the Nuggets' next three games should not be underestimated. They will face three teams in quick succession that are still fighting hard for the playoffs (Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets). However, by the time the Nuggets meet the Rockets, the Rockets may have locked up the second place in the West.

In these three games, the matchup between the Nuggets and the Grizzlies is particularly crucial. The outcome of this game could well determine whether the Nuggets can qualify directly to the playoffs or have to compete in the highly competitive play-in tournament.

During the Nuggets' four-game losing streak, Westbrook also made a lot of mistakes. In a double-overtime battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he made two fatal mistakes; In the loss to the San Antonio Spurs, an easy transition layup was also missed by him, causing the team to miss a 4-point scoring opportunity; Against the Warriors, he was out of form on several occasions.

Still, the Nuggets have a chance to bounce back. As long as they can play well in the final three games, they will not only be expected to secure a playoff spot, but may even gain home advantage in the first round of the playoffs.