DENVER — Less than three minutes into Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Nuggets were down by eight points and the ESPN on ABC broadcast was questioning whether Denver was “handling success” well.
The Heat, meanwhile, were “playing with the desperation you’d expect.”
The Nuggets had missed their first four shots and called a timeout down 10-2 with 9:13 to play.
In that huddle, the pep talk from head coach Michael Malone was simple – and the broadcast cameras captured it.
I'd follow Michael Malone into hell if he asked 🫡
— Nick Rothschild (@nick_rothschild) June 5, 2023
And he's right, this is The Finals#Denver7 pic.twitter.com/DPtQ9lYFRW
“Wake up! Discipline!” Malone barked during the break, adding a reminder: “It’s the Finals!”
“I don’t care about the offense, we’re going to score,” he added, “but we can’t have three [defensive] breakdowns in the first three minutes of the game!”
The Nuggets would close the gap to 26-23 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, they outscored the Heat by nine to lead 57-51 at half.
After controlling much of the middle two frames – and leading by eight heading into the fourth quarter – Miami roared back in the fourth to hand Denver its first home loss this postseason.
Denver Nuggets
