Nuggets coach George Karl is away from the team as he recovers from cancer treatments, but is still following the team very closely.
Denver trails Utah 2-1 in the first-round playoff series.
"The series is just beginning," Karl said. "The only thing I'm going to criticize: I (wish) our defense would be more 48-minute oriented, more possession oriented. We're turning our defense on and off too much."
Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups admitted Saturday that the team misses Karl's presence.
"He gives you something that, really, not a lot of coaches can give you," Billups said. "With the experience he has, and being able to make adjustments ... Just having that voice ? that confidence ? is kind of what you miss a little bit."