New York Knicks/ Denver Nuggets/ Michael Malone criticism/ Nikola Jokić/ Jamal Murray/ Knicks vs. Nuggets blowout/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone expressed his frustration following a crushing 145-118 home loss to the New York Knicks, criticizing his team’s lack of effort, toughness, and leadership. Despite standout performances from Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokić, and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets were outplayed across the board. Malone refused to brush off the loss, demanding accountability from his star players as the Nuggets fall to 9-7 on the season.
Nuggets’ Loss to Knicks: A Wake-Up Call
Quick Looks
- Lopsided Loss: Denver fell 145-118 to New York, trailing by 23 at halftime.
- Malone’s Frustration: The coach slammed the team’s lack of effort and physicality.
- Stat Breakdown: Knicks dominated, shooting 60.9% from the field and 52.8% from three.
- Key Players Called Out: Malone challenged Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray to step up.
- What’s Next: Denver faces Utah on Wednesday before a Thanksgiving break.
Knicks Rout Nuggets 145-118 for Most Impressive Win of Season
Deep Look
The Denver Nuggets suffered one of their worst losses of the season Monday night, falling 145-118 at home to the New York Knicks. Head coach Michael Malone didn’t mince words in his postgame comments, calling the performance an embarrassment and refusing to “flush” the defeat and move on.
Game Breakdown
The Knicks set the tone early, jumping to a 12-point lead in the first quarter that ballooned to 23 by halftime. New York outperformed Denver in every category:
- Shooting: 60.9% from the field, 52.8% from three-point range.
- Rebounding: Knicks 43, Nuggets 33.
- Teamwork: New York tallied 45 assists to Denver’s 23.
- Turnovers: Nuggets had 11, Knicks just 9.
Denver’s defense had no answer for the Knicks’ offensive firepower.
Malone Calls Out Leadership
While Malone acknowledged Russell Westbrook’s standout game (27 points, 9-of-16 shooting), he criticized the lack of leadership and energy from his star players, Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray.
“I need Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray—guys that have been here in that starting lineup—to be vocal,” Malone said. “Tonight, we got embarrassed. We’re 16 games in, and we’re talking about effort, toughness, and physicality. Playing like you actually care would be great, and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Key Performances
- Russell Westbrook: Led the team with 27 points on efficient shooting.
- Nikola Jokić: Managed 22 points but shot just 9-of-20.
- Jamal Murray: Scored 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
While Jokić and Murray played pivotal roles in Denver’s championship run two seasons ago, their efforts Monday were not enough to inspire the team.
Season Snapshot
The Nuggets started the season strong, including a five-game win streak, but have since lost four of their last six. Jokić’s recent absence for three games due to personal reasons disrupted their rhythm, and they’ve struggled to regain momentum despite his return.
The Knicks (10-7), on the other hand, have won five of their last six, positioning themselves as one of the NBA’s hottest teams.
What’s Next?
The Nuggets have a chance to rebound Wednesday when they face the struggling Utah Jazz (4-12) on the road. With Thanksgiving looming, the game represents an opportunity to regroup before a much-needed three-day break.
As Malone made clear, however, the path forward will require greater accountability and effort.
“Who do we want to be as a team?” Malone asked. “That’s the question we need to answer.”
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