Playerssay their woes almost a thing of the past

The Nuggets believe MILWAUKEE they’re close.

Even though they’ve lost six of seven and largely relinquished the Western Conference buffer they created with their hot start, the Nuggets swear a breakthrough is coming.

“We can all see it, we can all feel it,” said guard Jamal Murray. “I really think we lost one game this season, all the other games we dropped ourselves in terms of being disciplined, in terms of effort. We were right there. It’s been close games until the end.”

It may take that level of confidence to snap their late-game lapses.

Once up by as much as 17 late in the first half here Monday night, the Nuggets surrendered that lead to Milwaukee via punishing dunks from Giannis Antetokounmpo and multiple devastating 3-pointers. Over the final six-plus minutes the Nuggets allowed four 3pointers and an Antetokounmpo alley-oop while turning the ball over twice. The Nuggets’ Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic hit backto-back 3-pointers to make it a 100-98, but Khris Middleton buried one more 3-pointer for good measure.

The Nuggets, perhaps buoyed by the confidence of holding the NBA’s best offense to 104 points or reflecting the positive messages from head coach Mike Malone, conveyed a sense of confidence after the loss.

“We’re there,” Malik Beasley said. “We’re right there. We played really hard tonight, they made some shots at home. A few mistakes here and there on defense, but I think we’re gonna be good. We’re right there. We just gotta stay with each other.”

Malone cited little lapses – going under a screen on an Eric Bledsoe 3-pointer, gambling for a steal only to allow an easy look – as areas to clean up, but he was pleased with how his team fought. The most concerning stat, in his eyes, were the turnovers which led to 31 points. That’s nearly impossible to overcome on the road against a good defensive team.

“When you turn the ball over and they get going in the open court and they get the highlight plays, the crowd gets into it, you’re just beating yourself,” Malone said. “You’re putting yourself in position to win every night, that’s a positive, that’s a silver lining. But at the same time, you got-