Nuggets coach warns of early playoff exit with poor performance.

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone criticized his team's lack of focus, engagement, discipline, and care after their 124-103 loss to the Houston Rockets. The Nuggets needed a win to clinch the first-ever No. 1 seed in their history, but they didn't take the challenge seriously and played poorly. Malone warned that if they play like that in the playoffs, they'll be out in the first round. Nikola Jokic returned after missing three games with a calf injury, but he was plodding and lethargic, registering eight of his team's 20 turnovers. Jamal Murray also suffered a first-half thumb injury and didn't play in the second half.