Mike Malone was furious after the historic collapse in Game 7.
The Nuggets coach lashed out at reporters after his team blew a 20-point lead in Sunday’s 98-90 home loss to the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Malone said that no team had wasted a 20-point lead in Game 7 during what the NBA defines as the play-by-play era dating back to the 1997-98 season, so he’s pretty excited about his team blowing such an advantage. Answered valid questions incisively. The league posted on the X account.
Bennett Durand of the Denver Post asked, “How difficult is it just to absorb a loss like this after leading by 20 points?”
“Next question, dude,” Malone said. “The season is over. That’s hard. FK he’s 20 years old. The season is over. You don’t understand it. The season is over. That’s hard. Stupid ass question .”
It certainly didn’t help that the Timberwolves could be heard celebrating in the background, but this seemed like a case of a coach overreacting in the aftermath of a devastating loss.
The defending champions kept the Timberwolves in their own territory, taking a 15-point halftime lead and eventually leading 58-38 early in the third quarter.
And, as the late Dennis Green famously declared, the Nuggets “Let’s let them off the hook!“
Minnesota took the lead on a 30-9 run for 12 seconds to start the fourth quarter en route to a stunning upset to set up a Western Conference finals showdown with the Mavericks.
The 15-point halftime lead marked the largest halftime lead ever wasted in Game 7.according to the Associated Press.
Durand downplayed the X incident.
“I want to be clear: there’s nothing personal here. He was hot. The season just ended in brutal fashion. There was a long silence after the short answer. , I followed up.” Durand tweeted:. “It’s a pretty mundane question, but Malone treats members of the media with courtesy and respect. He’s been the toughest presser this year, and we all snap from time to time.”
Although Malone was clearly frustrated at that moment, he was still proud of his team’s accomplishments this season.
“This is just a temporary delay,” Malone said. Per ESPN. “It’s a failure, but not fatal. We’ll be back.
“There’s nothing to take from Minnesota because the better team won…but mentally, emotionally, physically, I think the players are feeling gassed.” They’re so tired. I am. they gave me everything I asked for. That’s why, no matter how much it hurts, I’m going to walk out of this building tonight with my head held high. ”
