Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was ejected in the second quarter of a last-second 120-118 win over the Sacramento Kings, but he reunited with his players in the locker room, hugging them after coming from behind to take a vital win before the All-Star break.

“It was just letting those guys know how much I love them, happy for them,” said Malone, according to Harrison Wind of BSN Denver.

“I think they probably enjoyed me not being there… I think our players know me. They know who I am. I’m a fighter, I’m a competitor, and I didn’t like some of the calls that were not being called and I’m going to stick up for our players.”

After trailing by 11 at the half, the Nuggets rallied to outscore the Kings by 13, riding that two-point differential until the final minutes of regulation.

A Buddy Hield jumper tied the affair at 118 apiece before Nikola Jokic tipped in his own miss with 0.3 seconds left, giving Hield just enough time (under NBA rules) to tee up a 26-foot 3-point effort that missed:

Jokic trotted out another triple-double with 20 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists on the night, securing a second straight win and some good spirits heading into the All-Star break.

The Nuggets (39-18) have been carried by their talisman center and fiery head coach, who chose to stand up for them, which eventually reflected with better effort in the third quarter.