The NBA’s last-two-minute report acknowledged a key officiating error at the end Saturday’s Nuggets’ win over the Mavericks, determining that Nikola Jokic should not have been called for a charge on Denver’s last offensive possession.
The incorrect call did not affect the outcome. And Malone said he’s “stopped looking” at those reports when they’re released the next day because “what good does it do you?”
“If you have those kinds of mistakes late in close games and you lose because of that, then thatap a really tough pill to swallow,” Malone said. “But we won the game. Thatap all I care about it.
“I applaud the NBA’s efforts for being transparent. But really, at the end of the day, I don’t know what those reports do. Because if we would have lost, itap not like we can go back and (replay) those last two minutes.”
Looking ahead. Monday’s home date with the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics begins a brutal week for the Nuggets, who play at San Antonio on Tuesday before hosting Oklahoma City on Thursday and defending champion Golden State on Saturday.
Denver entered Monday’s game at 26-23, one game up on the Clippers (25-24) for the eighth spot in the Western Conference and one game behind both No. 7-seed Portland and No. 6 seed New Orleans (both 27-22).
The Clippers, who Monday reportedly agreed to trade star Blake Griffin to Detroit for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and two draft picks, next host Portland on Tuesday and Chicago Saturday. Portland also hosts the Bulls on Wednesday, before playing at Toronto on Friday, at Boston on Sunday and at Detroit next Monday. The Pelicans, who just lost star big man DeMarcus Cousins to a torn Achilles tendon, host Sacramento on Tuesday, then play at Oklahoma City on Friday and at Minnesota on Saturday.
Footnote: Denver reserve forward Wilson Chandler, who left Saturday’s win over Dallas with a migraine headache, also missed Monday’s game against the Celtics. Chandler did not attend Monday morning’s shootaround but returned to the Pepsi Center that evening to be evaluated by the team’s medical staff. Second-year forward Juancho Hernangomez was active in Chandler’s absence Monday.
DENVER AT SAN ANTONIO
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
TV/Radio: Altitude 2; 950 AM
Spotlight on LaMarcus Aldridge: The all-star has helped keep the Spurs as one of the top teams in the West, even without superstar Kawhi Leonard. Aldridge is leading San Antonio with 22.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor. It’s been quite the change of events, after coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged earlier this month that Aldridge requested a trade during the offseason.
