Nuggets Coach Malone Savagely Hits Out at Media After Nuggets Game 2 Win vs. Lakers

Nuggets Coach Malone Savagely Hits Out at Media After Nuggets Game 2 Win vs. Lakers

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at May 19, 2023 at 12:50 PM
  • Denver Nuggets' head coach Michael Malone ripped the media for disrespecting his team
  • Malone referred to Game 1 discourse, which was focused on the Lakers instead of Nikola Jokic
  • The Nuggets now have a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series

Denver Nuggets' head coach, Michael Malone is not happy about the narratives surrounding the Western Conference finals.

After his team beat the Lakers 108-103 to go 2-0 up, Malone lambasted the media for allegedly disrespecting his team after Game 1.

Nikola Jokic, Michael Malone, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray, Nuggets, Lakers, NBA
Nikola Jokic is having a phenomenal postseason. Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE and Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE.
Source: Getty Images

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets produced an epic performance in Game 1, but most of the postgame discourse was about the interesting adjustments the Lakers made in the second half -- not the sensational performance Jokic produced.

The two-time MVP had 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 in Game 1. He became the first player to register multiple 30-20-10 in the playoffs.

The discussion was about how the Lakers switched Rui Hachimura on Jokic to allow Anthony Davis to roam the paint. Before Game 2, Malone said that this is nothing new, per ESPN.

"Much [is being] made of them putting Rui Hachimura on Nikola Jokic," Malone said. "Like we have never seen that before."

Malone blasts media

After a hard-fought Game 2 win, Malone put the record straight.

"The national narrative [after Game 1] was, 'Hey, the Lakers are fine,'" Malone said. "... No one talked about how Nikola just had a historic performance. ... The narrative wasn't about the Nuggets. The narrative wasn't about Nikola. … You put that in your pipe, you smoke it. And you come back, and you know what, we're gonna go up 2-0," he said, via Bleacher Report.

Malone reminded them that Jokic now has 13 triple-doubles in the NBA, the third most in NBA playoff history. Only LeBron James (28) and Magic Johnson (30) have more.

"Nikola Jokić, for those who don't know him, he's got 13 triple-doubles in these playoffs now."

Jokic had a quiet but effective Game 2. He finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists. Jamal Murray was the star of the show. He scored 23 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter.

Twitter reaction to Murray's heroics

Sports Brief earlier reported on how NBA Twitter reacted to Jamal Murray's incredible Game 2 performance.

Murray went toe-to-toe with the Lakers in the final frame, scoring nearly as many points as Los Angeles in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

The phrase ‘Jamal Murray is him’ became a trending topic on social media following his fourth-quarter masterclass.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.