They know every game is important and they are looking at one at a time.
But last time they played the Franklin Bulls and Auckland Huskies, they lost.
Perhaps just as importantly, they feel as though they did not play well.
Otago-product Sam Timmins was dominant down the stretch in the Bulls match, while the side managed just 69 points in a disjointed effort against the Huskies.
The losses came during a slump in which the side lost three of four games after starting well.
However, since then the Nuggets have rediscovered their form.
Three wins and a one-point loss have followed.
Carrying that on and making amends for the two losses are acting as plenty of motivation heading into tonight’s match against the Bulls in Auckland.
"The game against the Bulls is our focus right now — we lost to them in the first round and that stinks," coach Brent Matehaere said.
"And also we lost to the Huskies and that stinks as well.
"So our next game is our focus, then the game after that will be our focus.
"But the two we have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder about, two games we felt we didn’t perform very well, we’ll be looking to rectify that."
The Nuggets struggled offensively in a 75-74 win over the Canterbury Rams on Thursday night.
They managed just 27 first half points, but locked in defensively to hold the Rams to 27 as well.
It helped take them to a sixth win from 10 games, lifting them to a tie for second on the table with the Bulls and Manawatu Jets.
That followed a one-point loss to the Taranaki Mountainairs two nights before, in which a poor first half defensive effort cost the Nuggets.
Matehaere said getting stops had been a focus, the side realising it needed to step up at halftime against Taranaki.
That it was able to was key, particularly in showing it was able to win games when the shots were not falling.
"I think that’s a couple of times we haven’t shot the ball that well and managed to get over the top of a team.
"We’re confident we can now back our defence that we can slow some teams down and put some pressure on them on the defensive end.
"If we can get our shots going at the other end we’ll have games like we played against the Jets."
The Nuggets have four games before the playoffs beginning on Tuesday July 21.
They were in good shape health-wise as well.
It was hoped Richie Rodger would return from a back injury, while many of the other niggles were clearing up as well.
Tip-off is at 7.30pm.
