After the Denver Nuggets suffered a humiliating 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks, coach Michael Malone did not hold back in expressing his disappointment with his team’s effort. Malone emphasized that this was not a game he would easily forget or “flush” away.
The Knicks dominated the game from the start, leading by 12 points after the first quarter and extending their lead to 30 points at one point. Their exceptional shooting percentage of 60.9% and 45 assists, matching a team record, highlighted their strong performance.
Jalen Brunson’s impressive play, with 17 assists, and OG Anunoby’s career-high 40 points contributed to the Knicks’ victory. On the other hand, Russell Westbrook led the Nuggets with 27 points off the bench, and Nikola Jokic added 22 points but struggled with only seven rebounds.
Malone pointed out the lack of leadership and effort from his team, particularly calling out his starters to step up. He stressed the importance of toughness, physicality, and playing with passion, qualities he felt were missing in their performance against the Knicks.
Jokic acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, admitting that they did not show up for the game. He agreed with Malone’s assessment and emphasized the need for improvement moving forward.
Reflecting on the loss, Malone compared the Knicks’ motivated play coming off a defeat to the Nuggets’ lackluster performance following a victory against the Lakers. Jamal Murray also mentioned the potential distractions outside of basketball affecting the team’s focus.
As the Nuggets prepare to face Utah next, the team is expected to regroup and address the issues highlighted in their loss to the Knicks. With Malone’s strong stance on accountability and effort, the players understand the areas they need to work on to bounce back from this defeat.
In the competitive landscape of the NBA, every game serves as a learning opportunity for teams to grow and evolve. The Nuggets’ setback against the Knicks could serve as a wake-up call for the team to reevaluate their approach, refocus, and strive for better performances in the future.
