Nuggets HC Michael Malone praises team's Game 4 mindset

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on Sunday channeled his inner Rudy Tomjanovich after his team’s victory in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Nuggets beat the Timberwolves, 115-107, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. The Nuggets’ win tied the series at 2-2 after the team lost the series’ first two games in Denver.

During his postgame news conference, Malone was asked about what the Nuggets had “regained” over the last two games. Malone cited Tomjanovich’s memorable quote from when the former Houston Rockets coach had led his team to a 1995 NBA championship.

“Never underestimate the heart of a champion. They were quick to write us off. But these guys, we won a championship a year ago. We went into Miami [during the 2023 NBA Finals] and won two games in a row,” the Nuggets coach said. This team has been tested time and time again and we’ve found a way to solve whatever’s been thrown at us. … what I found about our group is they do believe in themselves and, more importantly, the man next to them.”