The Denver Nuggets' loss to the Thunder on Monday dropped them closer to reaching dreaded play-in tournament territory, as they sit just 1.5 games ahead of the Suns. They've lost four of their last six games, and if you think it possibly can't get any worse, don't look at the upcoming schedule (no, seriously, don't do it).
Even with the injuries that Denver has dealt with this season (and Peyton Watson is still out), this isn't a team that's supposed to climb its way out of the play-in to advance to the first round of the playoffs. Not after the front office retooled the offseason over the summer in hopes of pushing the Nuggets closer to contention.