After nearly defeating the Lakers 4-1 in the first-round series, the Nuggets were brimming with confidence heading into the Western Conference semifinal matchup against the Timberwolves this past weekend. However, the defending champions suffered a surprising loss in Game 1 and are aiming to bounce back on Monday in search of redemption.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch showed great respect for his opponents, referring to them as “probably the most complete and complementary starting five in the league” after their 106-99 victory.
On the other hand, Denver coach Michael Malone acknowledged the areas his team needed to improve before the next game. “We have to do a better job, especially our starters, of being prepared and setting the tone early,” he stated on Sunday. “What are we waiting for? I mean, now that we’re down 0-1, what are we waiting for?”
The Colorado team actually outscored their opponents 25-23 in the first quarter of Saturday’s game, but fell behind due to an 18-4 run by the Timberwolves. Malone immediately drew parallels between their performance in this game and the ones played against the Lakers.
“I spoke to our players this morning about how in the five games against the Lakers, we were behind almost every first quarter,” Malone explained. “So, do I believe that our guys are fully ready to do whatever it takes to defend our title? Absolutely. But at some point, you have to stop repeating the same mistakes.”
One surprising underperformance came from Jamal Murray, who failed to score in the first half, missing all five of his attempts. When asked about his early struggles, he simply responded, “Nothing, I’ve had scoreless games plenty of times before.”
Despite finishing the game with 17 points, Murray entered the match as questionable due to a left calf strain. “I’m fine,” he confirmed after playing 34 minutes over the weekend. “How many minutes did I play? It was enough.”
Murray Faces Uncertainty with Lingering Injury for Game 2
Although he downplayed any issues with his left calf, Jamal Murray remains questionable for Game 2 on Monday. The guard expects to still see significant playing time, as has been the case in every game since his injury against the Lakers.
“I’m not going to make excuses, man,” he stated. “Everyone deals with nagging injuries. Everyone is pushing through something at this stage of the season. My calf is no different from anyone else on the team or in the league, really. It’s frustrating, but I don’t want to use it as an excuse for the loss.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone on Jamal Murray remaining “questionable” for tonight’s game:
“I think it was one movement that worsened the calf.” pic.twitter.com/zuwgEpxOFB
— Bernie (@BernieKnowsBall) April 30, 2024
“It’s part of the playoff journey, and I’ve accepted that. There are solutions for everything. So, I just have to keep adjusting, we have to keep adjusting and find ways to get it done. The calf is what it is,” Jamal concluded.
Last year, the defending champions never trailed in a playoff series, so being behind after Game 1 is a new challenge for them.
