Nikola Jokic sits at the top of the current MVP ladder.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic missed his third straight game with calf tightness that first cropped up against Milwaukee on March 25 and lingered against Philadelphia on Monday, Malone said.

Malone stressed that Jokic’s absence was not gamesmanship; the two-time MVP is truly dealing with a tight calf.

“It’s just us being smart about it,” Malone said. “The worst-case scenario is he plays and it creates a much bigger issue where he’s out for an extended period of time.”

Denver moved within a game of securing home-court advantage in the Western Conference. A victory in the final four games or one loss by Memphis will give the Nuggets the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.

“I love the fact we’ve been in the first place since the middle of December, but this is all geared towards the postseason and how we perform,” coach Michael Malone said. “I know when the season is over, that’s how we’re going to be judged.”