"Two weeks ago, the Nuggets were hotter than a habanero.

They had won six straight — five of those on the rugged road from East (New York) to the Midwest (Milwaukee) to the West (Sacramento). They had won eight of nine, including a victory over the Heat.

They were the deepest team in the NBA, and the highest-scoring — with the most assists and the No. 2 shooting percentage. And they were painting by the numbers in the paint.

Now, the Nuggets are colder than a miner's ax."