Denver Nuggets are on a hot streak as Michael Malone and Jamal Murray name defense the key to success

The Denver Nuggets are in the midst of a hot run and have won three straight games and six of their last seven.

The Western Conference powerhouse has climbed to the top of the standings with a 20-11 record, tied with the Memphis Grizzlies. Denver have slowly come to the fore and emerged as a title contender.

Surviving a tough early schedule, injuries and COVID-19 cases after the first 31 games of the season, the Nuggets have shown their potential. Michael Porter Jr. said on Friday:

“We’ve got a long way to go, but, yeah, I think we’re starting to realize how good we can be as a team. We’ve got so many good pieces.”

Denver are coming off a couple of victories vs. the Portland Trail Blazers (107-120) and Memphis Grizzlies (91-105). They look to extend their winning streak to four games on Christmas Day in the home game vs. the Phoenix Suns.

The key to their current run is the improvement they have shown on defense after a series of poor showings. After Denver allowed only 91 points vs Memphis, head coach Michael Malone said:

"It's no secret when we guard we're a really good team because now you're adding to an elite offense a capable defense, and that allows you to get out and run."

The Nuggets have improved on the defensive side of the floor lately. They allowed just 43 points after halftime against the Blazers, a strong follow-up after limiting Memphis to just 91 points earlier in the week.

However, they know they still have a long way to go, as they rank 17th in the league with 113.7 points and 23rd in defensive rating (points per 100 possessions) with 113.9. Here's what Jamal Murray had to say on the matter:

“Nobody starts off the season perfect. Obviously, we had a little rough patch. We’re inconsistent at times, but I think we’re starting to find ourselves and where everybody’s going to be, not just on offense, but defensively where we should be.”

The optimism around the Denver Nuggets stems from multiple sources

The Nuggets are the best clutch defense in the league with an 82.3 defensive rating. They’ve played 57 clutch minutes (games in which there are five or less minutes remaining and the score is within 5 points) this season.

In clutch games, the Nuggets are also second in win percentage with a 9-4 record, putting them at 69.2%.

Aside from defense, the performances of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. have been key to the team's success. Both are coming off serious injuries and are still working on getting back into top form.

Against the Blazers, Murray (knee injury management) returned to the lineup with 25 points (19 after halftime) and a season-high 12 assists. Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 11 assists. Michael Porter Jr. was also in the lineup after missing 13 games with a left heel strain. He finished the game with 18 points, adding another weapon to the team's arsenal.

The Nuggets want to see Murray and Porter play consistent basketball and remain healthy moving forward to create a Big Three with Nikola Jokic, who is having another MVP-caliber season. Before the game vs. the Grizzlies, Malone said this of Murray:

“It’s definitely a tough one because I have to be the adult. I have to be the guy that’s not just living in the moment, but also taking kind of a big picture approach. We’ve also been together for seven years, and we have a relationship where we can be totally honest with each other."

Malone added:

"The scoring, Jamal does that in his sleep. The rebounding - eight boards tonight - the playmaking – 12 assists, three turnovers - that’s a four-to-one ratio; that’s outstanding. But I also felt he had some terrific defensive possessions."

Murray and Porter's conditions will be key for Denver if they want to go all the way. Two-time reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic can't lead the franchise all by himself, despite his stellar numbers.

Over the past two weeks, Jokic has been averaging 30.4 points, 15.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists. Such a statline makes him an early favorite for a third straight MVP award. Yet, he knows that without help from Murray, Porter Jr. and the rest of the roster, a deep playoff run will be a challenge for the Nuggets.

Overall, the Denver Nuggets have built some momentum lately, playing great basketball on both ends. If they remain healthy and continue to play that way, especially defensively, a top four finish will be a reasonable target.