As the fourth seed of the West, making mistakes at this stage of the league seems like a joke. But for the Denver Nuggets, that joke turned into a serious topic of conversation. Losing one game makes sense; however, four straight losses? Painful. Whom should the fans blame? Strategies, poor execution, or sheer luck? Maybe head coach Michael Malone could help them understand the flaws. After all, he’s at the helm of responsibilities.
Coach Malone carved his legacy in 2023 when he led Denver to its first championship. Years of struggle finally turned into triumph. Now, in 2025, the Nuggets remain in the hunt. But something feels off. Losses are piling up. The latest one against the Pacers 120-125 at Ball Arena hurt the most. The home crowd watched in silence. Another blow to their pride. Still, Malone did not hold back. He finally pointed fingers at what is truly dragging them down in this 0-4 stretch.
“I’ll start with me,” Mike Malone told the media in the postgame press conference. The head coach is taking accountability for the four straight losses the team has faced lately. “We’ve lost four games in a row, and I’m never going to this guy, that guy. How about me as a head coach, you know, not doing my job to the best of my ability?” Malone noted and questioned his ability as the torchbearer of his squad. At the same time, the 53-year-old mastermind is continuously throwing challenges at his boys.
Mar 28, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone during the second quarter against the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
He further pointed out, and quite bluntly, “You know, we haven’t lost four in a row in a long time. And it’s easy to be together and say ‘family’ when you win. But when you’re losing games, can you stay together? And do you have the b—-? Do you have the courage to go home and look in the mirror and say, ‘What can I be doing better to help this team?’”
As coach Mike said, it’s easy to stay together and united in wins, but when the losses hit, and this this case, one after the other, unity becomes a challenge. Besides, other teams like Sacramento or Memphis or Houston are not going to feel sorry for the Nuggets’ situation. Those teams are here to fight, and the more losses Denver has, the better it will be for them. “We put ourselves in this hole, and we only have ourselves to pull ourselves out of it. And I look forward to seeing how we respond,” Michael Malone concluded.
While Denver continues their streak of struggles for a fourth consecutive game, Nikola Jokic remains fierce. On Sunday, he chipped in 41 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists. Amidst the defeats, the Serbian big man continues to shine as the only beacon of hope, as Jamal Murray’s injuries and updates on them keep adding more beads of perspiration to the franchise’s forehead.
Amidst Michael Malone’s confessions after defeat, concerning information on Jamal Murray emerges
Jamal Murray‘s status has hovered around questionable for weeks. But that tag feels more like a waiting game than a real update. Coach Michael Malone admitted it himself. Before facing the Pacers on Sunday, he said Murray would “hopefully” return for the playoffs if they get there.
Malone informed, “Jamal’s hurt. It’s not careful. He’s hurt.” He also added, “So there’s a big difference. Careful is if a guy can play and you want to be smart. We’re not in a situation to do that. There are six teams vying for four (playoff) spots. So, if Jamal Murray is not out there, it’s not careful. It’s because he literally just is not able to play at the moment.”
Mar 23, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) controls the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Jamal Murray missed his fifth straight game on Sunday with right hamstring inflammation. The 28-year-old has pushed through pain before, from the playoffs to the Olympics last year. But this time feels different. “Hopefully, he’s able to be back by (the playoffs),” Mike Malone said. “This has been a weird one. It was day-to-day, day-to-day, and then next thing you know, it’s not day-to-day.” The update says little. But the silence says more.
The Denver Nuggets are slipping when they need to rise. Four straight losses have rattled the locker room. Jamal Murray’s uncertain return only adds to the storm. Nikola Jokic is doing everything, but one man can’t carry it all. Therefore, Michael Malone has called for courage. Now it’s about grit, unity, and answers—before it’s too late.
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