Nuggets’ Michael Malone Trashes Team’s Effort After Game 2 Loss

The Heat rallied from 15 points down to tie the series.

Say this about the head coaches of the Heat and Nuggets, despite their differing championship pedigrees: neither have any trouble expressing their feelings about their teams.

While Miami coach Erik Spoelstra rebuked ESPN's Ramona Shelburne Sunday night in the aftermath of the Heat's 111–108 Game 2 win, Denver coach Michael Malone lambasted his team for a lack of effort.

"Let's talk about effort. I mean it's the NBA Finals, and we're talking about effort," Malone said. "That's a huge concern of mine, and you guys thought I was just making up a story line after Game 1 when I said we didn't play well."

The Nuggets led Miami by as many as 15 points, but the Heat rallied down the stretch to win behind 23 points from guard Gabe Vincent with support from forward Jimmy Butler and center Bam Adebayo.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone was upset with his team's lack of effort in their Game 2 loss #MileHighBasketball

GAME STORY: https://t.co/rnXEAaZY3C pic.twitter.com/b7rnrnlPZf

— 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports) June 5, 2023

"Tonight, the starting lineup at the start of the game, it was 10–2 Miami," Malone said. "This is not the preseason. This is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. And that to me is really, really perplexing and disappointing."

Malone's tunnel vision—ABC's broadcast repeatedly alluded to the coach expressing that Denver didn't win anything after Game 1—has been an asset for the Nuggets this postseason. It will be tested like never before as Denver makes its way south for Game 3.