NBA news: Nuggets' Mike Malone responds to Michael Porter Jr.'s critical comments after loss to Clippers

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. made some critical comments after the their Game 4 loss to the LA Clippers, calling out Mike Malone and...

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. made some critical comments after the their Game 4 loss to the LA Clippers, calling out Mike Malone and the team's coaching staff.

Porter Jr. had 15 points in the first half, but went scoreless in the second off on two shot attempts. After the game, Porter Jr. told members of the media his lack of shots were a result of the coaching staff's play calling.

“That's really up to the play call,” Porter Jr. said. “That's really up to the coaches, who they want to put the ball in whose hands. We kept going to Jokic and Jamal. They are two amazing players, you can never get mad at at that, but I think that to beat that team, we have to get more players involved, we've got to move the ball a little bit better. We can't be predictable against that team.

“If I'm gonna be out there on the floor playing a lot of minutes, I think I should voice that so I'll probably talk to the coaches, tell them what I see being out there on the floor, just letting them know look t hey know what we're doing. we gotta swing the ball. We've got a lot of players who can play basketball and score so we gotta get some more guys involved.”

“To beat that team, we've gotta get more players involved.”

MPJ on wanting to get more involved on offense after Game 4 loss pic.twitter.com/iI7qRIHAeC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 10, 2020

Before their do-or-die Game 5, Mike Malone responded to Porter Jr.'s comments, saying they were discussed amongst the team during their off day Thursday.

“We talked about it briefly as a team,” Malone said. “Obviously during the playoffs, the last thing you want is any type of distraction, and if those frustrations are there for Michael or for anybody, it’s much better to keep those conversations internal, in the locker room, and amongst ourselves. And that was it.”

Nuggets’ Mike Malone on Michael Porter Jr.’s comments – “We talked about it briefly as a team. In the playoffs, the last thing you want is any distractions, and if those frustrations are there, it’s much better to keep those internal, in the locker room, and amongst ourselves.” pic.twitter.com/7smZHt8Pwk

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 11, 2020