In an emphatic display of frustration, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone refused to downplay the “embarrassment” caused by Monday night’s 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks. He made it clear that this match was not one to simply write off.
“No, absolutely not. You can’t move on after a game like that,” Malone said, in response to a reporter’s question. “We cannot ignore 145 points conceded. This match highlighted a lack of effort, determination and fighting spirit from our team. Erasing it? No way.”
The Knicks took control early, leading by 12 points late in the first quarter, extending their lead to 23 at halftime, and reaching a game-high 30 points on a night where they had an incredible 60.9% shooting success. Additionally, they recorded 45 assists, tying the franchise record for a game, set in 1979 against Cleveland.
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It is important to note that the 145 points scored is the highest score for an opposing team at Ball Arena since the Los Angeles Lakers’ 146 points in a thrilling overtime victory on April 10, 2022. It also represents the most of points a visiting team has scored in a regular season game in Denver since the Phoenix Suns’ 153-point performance on April 16, 1991.
The loss pushed the Nuggets to an unexpected 5-4 record at home this season, a stark contrast to last year’s dreadful 33-8 record at home.
Jalen Brunson stood out for the Knicks, dishing out 17 assists and scoring nine straight points during a decisive first-quarter surge that shifted the momentum in the Knicks’ favor. Brunson finished the night with 23 points, while teammate OG Anunoby celebrated a career-high 40 points.
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On the Nuggets side, Russell Westbrook led the charge off the bench with 27 points, while Nikola Jokic recorded 22 points but struggled with a season-low seven rebounds.
Asked about the need for leadership after such a performance, Malone highlighted the expectation of greater commitment from his starters, mentioning Jokic and Jamal Murray. “We need more than just a vocal presence from Russell. I demand my key players stand up and lead in times like this. Tonight we didn’t just lose; we were humiliated.
“At this point in the season, we should no longer be discussing issues of effort and fighting spirit. The question becomes: who do we want to be as a team? Leadership, strength and a true desire to compete are essential – and we failed in all of those areas tonight.”
Jokic echoed his coach’s sentiments, admitting, “We just didn’t show up tonight.
“This kind of wake-up call can be difficult but necessary. The truth is we find ourselves in games but often trailing by 20 points at halftime. We may not warm up properly or lack performance. “necessary intensity. It is time for us to collectively improve our performance.”
Malone pointed out that the Knicks entered this game with the energy of a team eager to bounce back from a tough loss at Utah, unlike a Nuggets team, which seemed overconfident after a win at LA
Murray referenced the game against the Lakers during his postgame comments, suggesting it may have affected the team’s focus.
“It’s a long season, and life outside of basketball matters to the boys. After our win against LA, some players stayed there, and I think that disrupted our concentration tonight. It’s a tough lesson to learn when attention fluctuates like this,” he said.
The Nuggets will look to bounce back as they prepare to take on the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
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