The Denver Nuggets were being certainly hammered by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night time, dropping Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series 106-80. Just after the game, Nuggets mentor Michael Malone gave a brutal assessment of the place his staff stood.
Malone did not sound content when addressing his team’s reduction. He stated, “They kicked our a–. Yeah, it got absent from us. It’s likely to be a challenge. The body language is not in which I assume it wants to be. We just acquired defeat up in our constructing. We obtained embarrassed in entrance of our supporters.” Malone ongoing, “You experience ashamed. You experience exposed. What are you heading to do about it.”
The defending NBA champs have their backs in opposition to the wall. They have opened the collection with two home losses and things will now shift back again to Minneapolis and the Timberwolves have all the momentum. Malone was right to truly feel ashamed and uneasy.
Denver didn’t get what it required from its stars in Sport 2. Nikola Jokic had 16 details, 16 rebounds and 8 asists but was 5-for-13 from the industry. Jamal Murray struggled mightily and finished with eight details, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and was 3-of-18 from the industry.
On the other side of points, the Timberwolves received almost everything they desired from their huge stars. Karl-Anthony Cities concluded with 27 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks while heading 10-for-15 from the industry and 3-for-5 from three-issue vary. Anthony Edwards ongoing his breakout postseason, scored 27 details, including 7 assists and ending an successful 11-for-17 from the subject.
Malone and the Nuggets will require to uncover an response speedily to change issues around or they’re going to turn into the sixth consecutive defending winner that unsuccessful to reach the NBA Finals.