The Denver Nuggets suffered another devastating blow with a 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks, marking their second home defeat in just four days. Head coach Michael Malone did not hold back his frustration during the post-game media session when asked if he was ready to move on from the embarrassing defeat. Malone vehemently rejected the idea, emphasizing that they cannot simply “flush” this loss away. He criticized the team’s lack of effort, physicality, and overall poor performance, stating that such a humiliating defeat should not be easily dismissed.
Malone recognized the vocal leadership displayed by Russell Westbrook, who scored 27 points, but expressed the need for more players, particularly Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who have been the team’s cornerstones for years, to step up in terms of leadership on and off the court.
Despite missing key players such as Aaron Gordon, who has been out with a calf injury since November 4, as well as Jokic and Murray who have also missed some games, Malone refused to make any excuses for the team’s lackluster 9-7 record. He highlighted the importance of establishing a consistent level of competitiveness, regardless of the players available.
Malone criticized the team’s lack of toughness, physicality, and passion, emphasizing that they were only fooling themselves if they believed they could be a playoff team with such performances. He called for a collective effort from the players and urged them to show more determination and care on the court.
Jokic supported Malone’s assessment and acknowledged the need for a wake-up call, suggesting that the team needed a good punch in the face to snap out of their current state. He acknowledged that the players collectively needed to do a better job.
Murray echoed Jokic’s sentiments and took responsibility for the team’s performance, stating that it was up to the players, not the coaches, to find solutions. He also speculated that the team’s lack of focus might have been influenced by their decision to stay in Los Angeles overnight after their victory against the Lakers on Saturday.
Currently tied with the Phoenix Suns for the seventh-best record in the highly competitive Western Conference, the Nuggets find themselves just one game ahead of the 11th-placed Minnesota Timberwolves. The team must address these issues promptly if they want to secure a playoff spot.