At the halfway mark of the NBA season, the Denver Nuggets find themselves in a position that should have fans feeling pretty good - if not downright optimistic - about what’s to come. Despite a stretch that’s tested their depth, resilience, and road-warrior mentality, Denver sits tied for second in the Western Conference with a 28-13 record. That’s no small feat when you consider the adversity they’ve faced.
Let’s lay it out: four starters have missed extended time with injuries, and the Nuggets have played seven more games on the road than at home. That’s a brutal stretch for any team, let alone one trying to defend a title.
But instead of treading water, Denver’s found a way to rise. They’ve leaned on their bench, stayed connected defensively, and most importantly - they’ve kept winning.
And now comes the part where things could really swing in their favor.
The second half of the schedule brings 24 home games and just 17 on the road. That’s a big deal for a team that plays at altitude in Ball Arena, where the Nuggets typically enjoy one of the league’s strongest homecourt advantages. With key players expected to return to the lineup soon, Denver is positioned to hit the gas and make a serious run at a top seed.
A month ago, that felt like wishful thinking. When Nikola Jokic went down with a knee injury, the immediate focus shifted to survival - avoid the play-in, stay afloat, and hope for better health down the line.
But the rest of the roster had other plans. Jamal Murray has looked like the best version of himself, the bench has delivered in big moments, and the team has kept pace - even climbing the standings in the process.
Now, they’re tied with San Antonio, and while Oklahoma City holds the top spot, they’re just 6.5 games ahead. The kicker?
Denver still has four games left against the Thunder. That’s not to say catching them is likely - it’s a tall order - but it’s not entirely out of the question either.
Even if OKC stays out of reach, locking in the No. 2 or No. 3 seed would be a huge win for Denver. It could mean avoiding a potential matchup with the defending champs until the Western Conference Finals - a major advantage in a stacked playoff field.
Still, let’s pump the brakes on the celebration just yet.
Despite the favorable home-road split coming up, the Nuggets face the league’s toughest remaining schedule based on opponent winning percentage. That includes four games against the Thunder, three each against the Spurs and Lakers, and two showdowns with the East-leading Pistons. That’s a gauntlet, no matter how healthy or deep you are.
And here’s the twist: while Denver’s been phenomenal on the road - 17-7 so far - they’ve been surprisingly average at home. An 11-6 record in Ball Arena isn’t bad, but by Denver’s standards, especially considering their usual dominance at altitude, it’s underwhelming. There have been a few puzzling performances in front of the home crowd - games where the energy just didn’t match the moment.
That said, with reinforcements on the way and the team starting to find its rhythm, there’s every reason to believe those home struggles are more of a blip than a trend. As the roster rounds back into form and rotations stabilize, expect Denver to reassert its identity on its home floor.
And that brings us to the big picture: playoff seeding. It’s easy to say that once the postseason starts, anything can happen.
But history tells us otherwise. Since the NBA-ABA merger, only two teams seeded lower than third have gone on to win the title - the 6-seed Rockets in 1995 and the 4-seed Celtics way back in 1969.
That’s it.
Translation: if you want to win it all, you better give yourself the best possible path. For Denver, that means finishing in the top three - ideally top two - to avoid a brutal early-round matchup and maximize their chances of another deep run.
The good news? They’re right in the thick of it.
The better news? They’ve weathered the storm and are getting healthy at just the right time.
If they can tighten up at home and continue riding the momentum from their recent stretch, the Nuggets won’t just be a playoff team - they’ll be a legitimate threat to win it all. Again.