We’ve reached the NBA Finals, and it doesn’t get any better than that.
No player should need any sort of extra motivation to get the job done when they’re just four wins away from winning an NBA championship, especially after already getting one of those wins out of the way.
That’s why Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone claimed to be quite disappointed in his team.
The Nuggets look to regroup after their first home loss of this postseason. pic.twitter.com/kUT57TE04u
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 5, 2023
The veteran coach cited a lack of effort as the main reason why they weren’t able to hold onto their double-digit lead, letting the win slip right through their fingers in the final 12 minutes of the game.
The Miami Heat proved to be the most resilient team in the game again, hanging on and slowly working their way back into the game.
The Nuggets were dominating on both ends of the floor early in the game, and it seemed like they could run away with the game, just like it happened in the first matchup of the series.
Then, Erik Spoelstra gave them several different looks, including putting Cody Zeller on Nikola Jokic, and Miami once again thrived with their zone defense.
The Heat have proven that any of their guys can have a big game out of the blue, and while they obviously don’t have the same kind or level of talent as the Nuggets, they’re still a force to reckon with.
The series will head to Florida for the next two games, and Malone will want to see a more consistent effort from his players going forward.
NEXT: Austin Rivers Reveals His Feelings About Nuggets Playing In Finals
