NBA games of the week: Thinking warm thoughts

Saturday, Jan. 13: Denver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET

Have you ever heard of the rain shadow? It describes a topographical area on a downside, leeward is the official term, of an elevated area of land, usually a mountain. The mountain’s extreme height and size causes condensation to precipitate prior to clouds and moisture reaching the other side of the mountain, casting a “shadow” that leaves the other side abnormally dry. Essentially, the Rocky Mountains stop moisture blowing inland off the Pacific, mitigating the rain and more importantly, the snow, from reaching east. The dry life is a good life.

As for the basketball side of things, the Nuggets are 5-5 in their last 10 games, which is in line with their alternating wins and losses throughout the season. Their defense has improved from their 106.3 rating for the entire season to 103. Over the past 10, Nikola Jokic and Trey Lyles have been their best two-man tandem. The duo has a net rating of 15.5 over 173 minutes. It’s not quite at the level of Gary Harris-Jokic, but Lyles seems to be finding his groove in Denver. But who can get a grip on this team? They beat a team like the Warriors, albeit without Stephen Curry, and then lose to the Kings a few games later.

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The Spurs continue to be the Spurs, Spursing their way to another Spursian season. They’re remaining conservative with Kawhi Leonard’s minutes, but he’s scored over 20 in each of his last two appearances.