Something bad is happening to Denver.
Until a few weeks ago, it was clear to everyone that this is the best team in the West, maybe even the best in the league.
Nikola Jokic and his teammates will probably keep first place in the conference - they are four games away from unsettled Memphis - but the playoffs are upon us, and now they look very vulnerable.
Tonight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) the Nuggets recorded their fourth loss in a row for the first time this season, this time 125:110 to Toronto.
"We're too relaxed, and you can't be too relaxed with 13 games left in the season," coach Mike Malone said.
"We must find a way to regain our spark. Maybe we became a little too soft after the success. We have been on automatic driver for so long, first place in the West since December 15. I told the players that we have moved away from who we were."
Nikola Jokic finished with 28 points which were not enough.
Meanwhile, more and more commentators claim that this losing streak will make it very difficult for him in the race for a third MVP title in a row.
"Denver lost a fourth game in a row and Jokic is still the favorite for MVP ahead of Embiid??? Really??? How???"
tweeted commentator Skip Biles.
"If Joel Embiid doesn't win the MVP, it will be a real shame," added journalist Chris Palmer.
"This award will begin to lose its meaning."
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Toronto ran away to a 64:88 lead in the third quarter, Denver shrunk to 98:92, but no more.
"When you spend so much energy trying to come back, you don't have anything left to finish the game," Malone said.
Jamal Mari added: "We dug ourselves a hole that was too big and we couldn't get out of it."
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