The Denver Nuggets are heading into the playoffs as one of the top contenders in the Western Conference, and they want to make sure that they will head there at full strength.
The Nuggets are tied with the Golden State Warriors for the best record in the West, and with 13 games left, they can still snag the top spot from the two-time defending champions. However, head coach Mike Malone is planning to rest some of his players as they prepare for the postseason.
Denver has remained competitive this season, despite injuries to some of their key players, most notably Gary Harris, Paul Millsap, and Will Barton. All three guys need to be 100 percent in the playoffs, as they will play a key role in the Nuggets' quest of winning a title this season.
With the regular season ending in a few weeks, a lot of playoff-bound teams have the same mentality as the Nuggets. They will rest some of their best players in certain games to minimize the possibility of them suffering a major injury before the postseason begins.
The Nuggets have worked hard all season to be where they are right now. As the probable first or second seed in the West, it seems that only injuries could slow them down, and they are taking all the precautionary measures to make sure that they are all ready to go in the knock-out phase of the season.