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The Utah Jazz obliterated the Denver Nuggets for the second straight game to go up 2-1 in their best-of-seven first-round series. After losing 124-105 in Game 2, the Nuggets fell by an inexcusable 37 points in Game 3. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone spoke about the embarrassing loss and said that their two stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray need to step.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet. 15 points, six assists, five rebounds… those OK numbers but from Nikola, obviously, we need more. Especially when Rudy Gobert’s having the game that he’s having,” Malone said after the defeat, via Antonis Stroggylakis of EuroHoops. Gobert had a double-double of 24 points plus 14 rebounds in his top-scoring performance since January.
“Rudy Gobert dominated us tonight,” Malone said. “Mike Conley dominated us tonight. We’re not going to go anywhere if Nikola and Jamal combine for 27 points. The best players are stepping up and play well.”
As Malone mentioned, Denver's top two players were not themselves on Friday. After dropping 28 points, 11 boards, and six dimes, in Game 2, Jokic was held to just 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Game 3.
Murray, meanwhile, struggles for the second straight game, notching just 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting, after exploding for 36 points in the series opener.
Malone, however, didn't excuse himself from the criticism for Denver's poor outings in the last two games. He added that this is on the entire team, including himself, and acknowledged that he needs to coach better.
Nonetheless, as dominant as Utah has looked over the last two games, this series is far from over. Malone and the Nuggets still have plenty of time to get back to the drawing board and make adjustments heading into an all-important Game 4.
