Michael Malone calls out officiating after Nuggets loss in Game 1

After shooting just 13 free throws in Game 1, including only two by Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets head coach attempted to lobby for more calls

BY JAMES MERILATT

Apr 16, 2022, 9:56 PM

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Nobody was better at working the officials during a postgame press conference than Phil Jackson. If his team didn’t get a favorable whistle during the playoffs, the head coach would use his time in front of the media to voice his displeasure. More often than not, his Lakers and/or Bulls would get more calls during the next game of the series. It’s part of the reason why he won 11 rings.

On Saturday night, Michael Malone tried to do the same thing. After his team’s 123-107 loss in Game 1 of their first round series against the Warriors, the Nuggets head coach took some veiled shots at the referees.

“Nikola Jokic played 34 minutes and got to the foul line two times,” Malone said after the game. “There were times when his jersey was getting pulled out a lot.”

It’s not an untrue statement. At multiple times during the game, Doris Burke was lamenting the lack of calls during the ABC broadcast. It was laughable at time.

On the night, the Nuggets shot 13 free throws. The Warriors shot 29. That’s a pretty ridiculous disparity, even on the road.

It led to some frustration during the game. In the second half, DeMarcus Cousins received back-to-back technical fouls and was ejected from the game. The backup center has a reputation that proceeds him with the officials, giving them a quick trigger when he’s upset. But the head coach didn’t like the decision to boot him.

“I did not see or hear DeMarcus do or say anything,” Malone said about the first technical foul.

Of course, Malone didn’t put all of the blame on the referees. He also pointed the finger at his team’s effort.

“We can’t beat ourselves and the Warriors in the same game,” he lamented on a night when Denver surrendered 40 points off turnovers and offensive rebounds. “We did that tonight.”

Will anything in Game 2 on Monday night? Will the Nuggets have a better effort? Will they get a better whistle?

Michael Malone did his best to lobby for one after Game 1. Time will tell if it pays dividends.

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