Michael Malone calls out Nuggets’ effort in blowout loss to Knicks

After his Denver Nuggets “received embarrassed” in a 145-118 blowout loss to the New York Knicks on Monday evening, coach Michael Malone was adamant that is one recreation that he will not be “flushing.”

“F— that man, no. No, we’re not flushing,” Malone mentioned in response to a reporter’s query. “You do not flush if you get embarrassed, you do not flush if you gave up 145 factors, you do not flush if you did not play arduous, did not play with effort, physicality, I am not flushing something.”

The Knicks led by 12 factors after the primary quarter, 23 at halftime and by many as 30 on an evening the crew shot a scorching 60.9% from the ground. Their 45 assists matched the single-game crew report set towards Cleveland on Nov. 24, 1979.

New York’s 145 factors marked probably the most scored by a customer to Ball Enviornment because the Los Angeles Lakers scored 146 in an extra time win on April 10, 2022. It was probably the most factors a visiting crew had scored in a regulation recreation in Denver because the Phoenix Suns received 153-118 on April 16, 1991.

The loss dropped the Nuggets to a stunning 5-4 at dwelling this season. The crew tied for the second-best dwelling mark final season at 33-8.

Jalen Brunson, who contributed 17 of New York’s 45 assists, had a run within the first quarter when he scored 9 straight factors for the Knicks. He outscored the Nuggets by a 9-2 margin to interrupt open the sport.

Brunson completed with 23 factors, whereas OG Anunoby scored a career-high 40 factors for New York. Russell Westbrook had 27 factors for the Nuggets off the bench, and Nikola Jokic completed with 22 factors together with a season-low seven rebounds.

Malone was requested what he expects from his crew’s management in such conditions and mentioned he wants extra from his starters specifically.

“Effectively, yeah, I imply like Russell Westbrook, he is vocal — however we want greater than Russell Westbrook,” Malone replied. “I would like Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, I would like guys which have been right here in that beginning lineup to be vocal. And you already know tonight we received embarrassed.

“We’re 16 video games in and we’re speaking about effort, we’re speaking about toughness, we’re speaking about physicality. … And no matter who’s in, who’s out, who can we wish to be as a crew? So, yeah, management could be nice, toughness could be nice, physicality could be nice, enjoying such as you truly care could be nice, and we did not try this tonight.”

Jokic did not disagree along with his coach’s evaluation, saying, “We did not present up tonight.”

“It is all the time a superb punch within the face simply to get up,” Jokic mentioned. “Coach was proper. We’re within the video games, and we’re all the time down 20 at a half. I do not know [what’s going on]. We do not heat up, we do not get up, or we simply do not play arduous sufficient. I do not know what it’s, however collectively, we have to do a greater job.”

Malone mentioned the Knicks performed like a crew coming off a nasty loss in Utah, whereas the Nuggets “performed like we received a recreation in L.A. and we will simply present up tonight.”

Murray additionally introduced up Saturday evening’s recreation towards the Lakers throughout his postgame information convention and the way it may need affected the crew’s focus.

“It is a lengthy season. Guys have lives exterior of basketball,” Murray mentioned. “We simply beat L.A. in L.A. We have got some guys who reside in L.A., so stayed in L.A. I do not suppose the main target was there from everyone, and that is what occurs when you do not have the main target.”

The Nuggets subsequent play Wednesday evening in Utah.

ESPN Analysis and The Related Press contributed to this report.