NUGGETS: Coach Michael Malone trusts Will Barton will soon snap out of his shooting slump.

After Friday’s home win over the Lakers, Nuggets coach Michael Malone focused on one portion of Will Barton’s statistics line — his team-high plus/minus figure at plus-25.

“Thank you for noticing,” Barton joked with his coach.

It illustrated Barton’s wide-ranging impact when he’s on the floor. But it’s been an off couple weeks for the Denver swingman. He initially thrived when he moved back to a reserve role following Paul Millsap’s return, a bright spot in an offense that was clunky at times during the reintegration process. Over the past three games, though, Barton’s shooting numbers have slipped, including a 3-for-14 outing in Tuesday’s crucial loss in the Nuggets’ quick rematch against the Lakers.

“We definitely have to find ways to get him going,” Malone said of Barton after the game. “Get his rhythm back, get his confidence back. Will Barton is a very, very key part to this team.”

Barton has been the Nuggets’ most versatile piece this season. He began as an NBA sixth man of the year candidate because of his ability to provide a scoring punch by making plays off the dribble. He has stepped into starting roles at shooting guard and small forward. He held the backup point guard role for a time, before Denver acquired veteran Devin Harris at the trade deadline.

But Barton is shooting 34.6 percent from the floor over his past five games, a sharp dip from his season average of 44.9 percent. His 10.0 points per game over that stretch are nearly five points off his season average. But he’s contributing five rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, consistent with season marks.

Malone partially attributed Barton’s scoring dip to how the distribution of Denver’s free-flowing offense has shifted. Wilson Chandler, who had struggled for much of the season, tied his season-high with 26 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers and has been a force since the trade deadline. Though Millsap has not gobbled up points in his return from wrist surgery, he still commands shot attempts. And Harris has recently been playing more off the ball, putting it back in Barton’s hands.

“I try not to even think about it. I just try to play,” Barton said at Tuesday’s shootaround prior to Tuesday’s loss at the Lakers. “Am I on ball? Am I off ball? I’ve just got to make plays whenever I get it.”

Malone will keep reminding Barton to take that aggressive approach as part of an offense that has hummed its way to 19 consecutive 100-point outings. The coach would like to see Barton finish the season averaging 15 points, six rebounds and four assists per game.

And Malone trusts Barton’s shooting numbers will return to form.

“I’m not worried about Will Barton,” Malone said. “I’m really not.”