DENVER CUTS BACK ON TURNOVERS FROM EARLIER

» A silver lining CHARLOTTE, N.C. from the Nuggets’ lopsided 11093 loss at the Charlotte Hornets? Denver committed 14 turnovers, six fewer than its season average that ranked last in the NBA entering Wednesday.

Coach Michael Malone attributed that dip to better decisionmaking but also noted the Hornets’ defensive style is to protect the paint with Dwight Howard rather than jump into passing lanes.

Denver had entered Wednesday tied for seventh in scoring defense (98 points allowed per game), a drastic improvement from last year. But 24 of those points came off turnovers, which ranked 28th in the league.

Malone said Denver needs its average points off turnovers figure to go down by at least eight points “for us to have any chance” to be a consistent winner. Film study was a focal point after committing 24 in Monday’s loss to Washington. For instance, assistant Ryan Bowen sat with Nikola Jokic to break down all eight of his giveaways.

“I can sit here and tell you one thing, and in your mind you’re saying, ‘No way. Coach is crazy. Coach is trippin’,’ ” Malone said. “But when I sit down and watch film with you and I show you … you see why and where and how you can get better.”

NBA’s error.

The NBA admitted in its two-minute report that a loose-ball foul should have been called on Washington’s Ian Mahinmi for colliding with Jokic under the basket in the final minute of Denver’s loss Monday.

After Jokic hit the floor, he got up and bumped Wizards coach Scott Brooks while walking back to the bench for a timeout, resulting in a technical foul that helped Washington clinch a 109104 victory.

Though Malone said he appreciates the NBA’s transparency, the coach added the admission “does nothing.” And he reiterat- ed his postgame comments — that the Nuggets lost that game because they gave the ball away a season-high 24 times.

“I make mistakes. The referees make mistakes,” Malone said. “The bottom line is we lost that game because of our turnovers — not the Scott Brooks incident, not that last play where they didn’t call the foul on Mahinmi.”

College coaching legends watch.

Kentucky coach John Calipari and North Carolina coach Roy Williams both sat courtside. And for good reason, as both schools are well-represented on the Nuggets’ and Hornets’ rosters.

Denver’s Jamal Murray and Trey Lyles and Charlotte’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Malik Monk are Kentucky products. The Hornets’ Marvin Williams and Marcus Paige are former Tar Heels.

Naturally, Williams got a much louder ovation than Calipari from the home crowd.