Mike Malone, the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, spoke after his team’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 114:103.
The American coach talked about the third quarter, which he believed was crucial. He also highlighted the Nuggets’ points in transition.
“The defense was key in that part of the game. Look at the score: 32-18, that’s Denver Nuggets basketball. Defense and rebounding are key, and they’re in our house, so we have to run. We can’t play half-court basketball, and we had 21 points in transition, which is an exceptional number in a playoff game. I also have to point out the 27 assists and only six turnovers, equally great balance,” Mike Malone stated at the beginning.
Mike Malone then talked about Nikola Jokic, always in superlatives, stating that the Serbian center shines brighter as the NBA scene grows larger.
“What was really impressive is quite obvious: 32 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals. He had a very important steal towards the end. How many dunks did Jokic have tonight? That’s really great. We should be giving out gifts or something similar. Nikola is a fantastic player, and the bigger the ‘stage,’ the brighter the lights, he continues to shine.”