Nuggets’ Coach Michael Malone Defends Westbrook Amid Critical Late-Game Blunders”
The Denver Nuggets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 140-139, in an exhilarating double-overtime game on Tuesday night. This loss overshadowed a historic performance by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. In the final moments of the second overtime, two crucial mistakes by the Nuggets’ nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook—a missed layup and a foul on a Timberwolves player who was attempting a game-winning three-pointer—ultimately led to Denver’s defeat.
However, Nuggets coach Michael Malone refused to place the blame solely on Westbrook when speaking to reporters after the game.
“I know who Russell Westbrook is,” Malone stated. “He’s a guy that hates to lose, so he may not want to hear any of that. He’s a perfectionist and a competitor. Knowing Russ the way I do, he’s probably going to take a lot of this on himself. But we lost tonight. The Denver Nuggets lost.”
“We, as a collective group, lost that game tonight. Not one player.”
With the Nuggets leading by one point and less than 20 seconds remaining in the second overtime, a turnover by the Timberwolves led to a fast-break opportunity for Denver. Westbrook had a good look at a layup but missed, allowing Minnesota another chance to tie or take the lead.
Westbrook did recover well on defense, contesting a game-winning three-point attempt from Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker. As the shot missed and the buzzer sounded, Alexander-Walker fell to the ground. However, officials called a foul on Westbrook, and after a brief replay review, the call was upheld. This put 0.1 seconds back on the game clock and sent Alexander-Walker to the free-throw line, where he made both shots to secure the victory for Minnesota.
Staying in line with Malone’s sentiments, Westbrook’s teammates, including the record-setting Jokic, supported him after the tough loss.
“Why? What happened is basketball,” Jokic said when asked if he would talk to Westbrook after the game, according to The Denver Gazette. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t intend to commit a foul. It happens. His intentions were good. It’s just how the game goes.”
Regarding the missed layup, Nuggets forward Christian Braun added, as reported by Katy Winge of Altitude Sports, “We trust him to take that shot 100 out of 100 times. That’s not what lost us the game.”
In 38 minutes of play, Westbrook contributed 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
