Michael Malone On Nuggets' Blowout Loss To Timberwolves: 'They Kicked Our Ass... We Got Embarrassed In Front Of Our Fans.'

Malone also stated that the Nuggets did not match the Timberwolves' aggression and physicality. He has never been the kind of coach to sugarcoat things and said it as it was here, that was an embarrassing performance. 

The Nuggets showed no heart and I couldn't see that sense of urgency that I'd expect from a team that had just lost Game 1 at home. They played some careless basketball as well and it was all just the complete opposite of what we had seen from this team over the last year or so.

As a result, they are now down 2-0 and I think their chances of turning this series around are slim at best. It would be one thing if these two games had been played in Minnesota, but they weren't and I have a hard time picturing the Nuggets winning two road games in this series to stay alive.

What makes matters worse, is that Jamal Murray is clearly not fully healthy. Murray suffered a left calf strain in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers and has struggled mightily against the Timberwolves, with averages of 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.

As for Nikola Jokic, we haven't seen him at his best just yet either. Jokic has averaged 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in this series, but has only shot 42.1% from the field. He is also averaging 5.5 turnovers per game. The Nuggets have absolutely no chance of turning things around if their two stars do not start playing better.

Michael Malone Explained Why He Confronted A Referee In Game 2

The Nuggets were not too happy with the officiating in Game 2 and at one point, Malone furiously ran onto the court and went face-to-face with a referee after a no-call. During this press conference, he was asked if he was trying to get a technical foul there or trying to make a point. (starts at the 6:06 mark in the above video):

"D. All the above," Malone said. "As a coach, when you ask your players to go out there and fight and to compete at a higher level than you did in Game 1 and you have a player go out there and do that and try to do what you're asking of them and he's not rewarded, that's very frustrating.

"I think that was Jamal in that case," Malone continued. "It's up to me to fight for my guys... But when he's out there battling a guy like Karl-Anthony Towns and trying to take a charge and what I thought was an easy call and he's not rewarded, I owe it to Jamal Murray or anybody else in that situation to voice my opinion, to voice my concern and my disagreement."

I do like the fact that Malone wanted to defend his player there. The 52-year-old somehow did not get a technical foul for it, though, which was rather surprising. Malone standing up for Murray didn't galvanize the team, however, and they instead faltered to lose in embarrassing fashion.