Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone hopes his team ends the season, even after seeing his team go down 3-0 during a 116-102 Game 3 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals on Friday night. Will not done. A sweep on Sunday.
"I know for myself, I can't speak for anyone else, the last thing I want to see is the Phoenix Suns sweeping our court after Game 4," Malone said. "We've had a tremendous season, tremendous. I said going into this year you can't judge a season by the final result. We got to the Western Conference Finals last year, a few things could happen, but our May have a better season this year but not that far.
"But one thing I don't want us to do is go quietly out on that good night. I hope we show some real fighting and resolve and force that series to go back to Phoenix for Game 5."
Malone drew attention after Denver's loss in Game 2 when he said that he felt "abandoned" by his team when he was dismissed by the Suns in the second half for the second consecutive game.
He seemed more pleased with his team's effort after Game 3, taking solace from the fact that his youth group dug themselves through the 3-1 hole twice during last season's bubble playoffs.
"As far as the 3-0 deficit is concerned, yes, history is not on our side," Malone said. "But you know what? We've rewritten history over the years. When we were down 3-1 twice last year, it wasn't about trying to win three more games. This next game It was about winning, winning the first quarter, winning the second quarter, and that's our mindset."
The Nuggets also need to find a strong resolve as it relates to protecting All-Star Chris Paul, who has been setting the Nuggets on fire all series. This continued on Friday, when Paul had 27 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in 37 minutes.
Paul's steady presence has been a huge reason why the Suns are a game away from ending Denver's season. According to ESPN Stats and Information Research, he has scored 30 points on 12-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range, with eight assists and no turnover in three quarters of the series. is.
"We just have to make it harder on him," said Nuggets guard Monte Morris. "He's a Hall of Fame point guard, top five easily, still playing in the NBA. ... He's all-encompassing. CP is a tough cover for anyone, but we just need to stick to our game plan." Have to stick around and try to execute it the best way we can.
Morris said: "S---, it's 3-0. We all have to keep it there. We have nothing to lose. But we certainly don't try to go off-season on our home courts Doing it. That feeling won't fit."
About the only feeling that sat well for the Nuggets centered around center was Nikola Jokic, who received his MVP trophy before Friday's game and then went out and scored 32 points, caught 20 rebounds and provided 10 assists. According to ESPN Stats and Information Research, Jokic joins Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only player to have 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.
"It was a special moment," Jokic said. "I enjoyed the moment. I wish my wife was here and my parents. I had my teammates behind me because it's my trophy, but it's because of them all. That's why I have to thank them."
If Jokic and the Nuggets had to lose Sunday's Game 4, he would have become just the fifth MVP in league history to have been out of a playoff series, behind Magic Johnson (1989 final), Moses Malone (1979 first round), Abdul-Jabbar became involved. (1977 conference final) and Wes Unseld (1969 conference semifinal).
"We've already experienced a [closeout game]," said Suns guard Devin Booker. "Knowing that they're not going to give up. They've got the league's MVP there, they've been coached well by Mike Malone and they have some players who play very hard. No one will ever play their season Doesn't want the end, so we know they're going to give it their shot and we're up for it."
Malone said he is hoping his team will recover before it's too late.
"My only hope is that we don't let go of the rope because of what history tells us," Malone said. "My only hope is that come Sunday afternoon/evening, whenever that game happens, our guys show up and fight. I think they deserve it, their teammates deserve it, and our fans deserve it, To go there and drop all this line and you can walk off the floor with your head held high."