'CHILDISH'
Nuggets coach Michael Malone slams reporter for ‘stupid question’ after reigning NBA champions see season end
The Nuggets led for much of Sunday's game
DENVER Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has made his feelings brutally clear following their NBA Playoffs exit.
The reigning NBA champions were knocked out of the Playoffs on Sunday via a 98-90 Game 7 Conference Semifinals loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Denver's loss was made all the more painful given that at the half they held a 53-38 lead - a lead they didn't lose until the fourth period.
Asked by a reporter after the game how tough it was for him "to absorb a loss like this after going ahead by 20," Malone had a blunt response.
"The season's over. That's what's hard. F**k being up by 20," he replied, before adding, "Stupid a** questions."
Malone's response drew plenty of reactions from fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the clip went viral.
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"Felt like it was a good question lol," one fan said.
"It's not the reporter's problem if you and your team cannot maintain a 20-point lead in a Game 7 on your home court," a second replied.
"Keep your ego in the back pocket and answer the Q as a professional. How is it a silly Q?"
A third commented, "You and your team blew a 20-point lead at home, that was a fair question."
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While another simply labeled Malone's response "childish."
During Sunday's presser, Malone admitted that in the end, "The better team won," adding he was "taking nothing away from Minnesota."
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However, he also took the opportunity to cite their busy schedule over the past year as a factor in their loss.
"When you look at the fact that all the teams that are still playing we played into June last year, a lot of basketball," Malone said.
"And then we had to play our guys, our main guys unlike last season, through Game 82 to secure the No. 2 seed, whereas last year we were able to rest down the stretch.
"And I think the run last season, and coming back, and the amount of minutes that our starters had to play, I think mentally, emotionally, physically, I think guys are gassed. They're dead tired."
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Malone said his players gave him "everything I could ever ask for.
"And that's why, as much as this hurts, I will walk out of this building tonight with my head held very high."
Guard Jamal Murray led the Nuggets in scoring on Sunday with 35 points along with three assists and rebounds.
NBA MVP Nikola Jokic finished with 34 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists.
As for Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists.
NBA Western Conference playoffs
First Round
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 4-0 New Orleans Pelicans (8)
Los Angeles Clippers (4) 2-4 Dallas Mavericks (5)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) 4-0 Phoenix Suns (6)
Denver Nuggets (2) 4-1 Los Angeles Lakers (7)
Conference Semifinals
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 2-4 Dallas Mavericks (5)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) 3-3 Denver Nuggets (2)
While Jaden McDaniels racked up 23 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
The Timberwolves now move on to the Conference Final where they will take on the Dallas Mavericks.
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Luke Doncic and the Mavs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 in their Semifinal series to reach their second Final in three years.
The series will tip off on Wednesday, May 22, at the Target Center.
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