Michael Malone Used Interesting Motivational Tactic to Spark Nuggets' Game 3 Win

Mike McDaniel | May 11, 2024

May 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone calls out a play / Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

With the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets finding themselves in a 2-0 series hole in the West semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Nuggets coach Michael Malone had to find a new way to motivate his team with its season in doubt.

Despite having the best player in the NBA on the roster in Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets were struggling to stop Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, and with Jamal Murray clearly hobbled, there were many wondering if Denver's season was over.

That made it easy for Malone to spark his team heading into Game 3 on Friday night, which the Nuggets won 117-90 to cut the series deficit to 2-1.

"You're always testing and finding out about human nature and what guys are made of when your back's against the wall," Malone said. "I had an edit made...and it was a two-minute edit of every talking head in this country saying that the series is over. The Nuggets are done. It's a wrap. They're toast. Minnesota's the better team...all the big personalities. You know who they are. Not that they were wrong. This is not a shot at those people because after those first two games, I probably would have said the same thing. ...But I knew this would maybe strike a chord."

"I had an edit made... of every talking head in this country saying that the series was over, the Nuggets are done, it's a wrap... I knew that this would maybe strike a chord."

Michael Malone used the critics' words to motivate Denver for Game 3 💯#NBAPlayoffs presented by… pic.twitter.com/B0U1WbwSEd

— NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2024

And it did.

Every member of Denver's starting lineup scored in double figures, with Jokić and Murray pouring in 24 each, while Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 of his own.

Denver stepped up on the defensive end of the floor as well, holding Minnesota to 10 for 33 shooting (30.3%) from three. Edwards scored just 19 points and was a -32 in 37 minutes of action.

Game 4 in Minnesota is set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.