The Nuggets are worried that J.R. Smith's antics will threaten their goal of winning an NBA title.
"He's one of our best players, and if you have one of your best players not either playing at his best or acting as best he can, it's going to affect the team," said Nuggets captain Chauncey Billups.
"And his role has been increased this year. The last couple years, he maybe wasn't a player we had to lean on every night. We need J.R. (this year). He knows that. We need him to be right ? at all times."
The Nuggets considered suspending Smith after the guard's pouting antics during Saturday's game, but decided against it on Monday.