Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on Monday was livid over a couple of non-calls during Game 2 of his team’s Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
An Anthony Edwards layup put the Timberwolves up 22-17 with 3:21 to play in the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo.
Malone called a timeout following Edwards’ made basket. Once play was stopped, the Nuggets coach immediately confronted referee Marc Davis and started shouting right at the veteran official’s face.
Michael Malone was absolutely IRATE with Marc Davis at the timeout after the no-call 😳https://t.co/FcAGPYqWSX
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 7, 2024
Malone was so furious that TNT announcer Reggie Miller thought that Malone was about to get ejected. But the Nuggets coach surprisingly didn’t even receive a technical foul for losing his temper.
Malone was presumably mad due to a non-call during Minnesota’s previous possession when Karl-Anthony Towns bulldozed Nuggets guard Jamal Murray on a post-up.
The defending champion Nuggets lost homecourt advantage in the series after losing Game 1 to the Timberwolves. The visitors wore down Nuggets star Nikola Jokic with their size, which even prompted a humorous quip from the 2-time MVP.
Malone have have been feeling the heat given how the Timberwolves had controlled the quarter up to that point. Minnesota ended the first 12 minutes with a 28-20 lead despite Rudy Gobert missing the game. The Timberwolves won 106-80 to take a 2-0 series lead.
