In the late-night aftermath of the Nuggets’ 107-104 home victory against the Pacers on Tuesday, Denver coach Michael Malone answered reporters’ questions about the game in a crowded hallway just outside the tunnel leading to the locker room.
Points of discussion were plentiful. Is Paul Millsap now proving his worth? How impressive is Will Barton’s rebounding? Is Nikola Jokic playing his best basketball? Each question quickly followed another — sometimes jumbling together as reporters battled for talk time. Thatap when Malone turned his attention to the media scrum.
“I like it, everybody is on point,” Malone said. “Everybody wants to ask a question tonight.”
Reporters laughed. It was true.
The Nuggets control their own playoff destiny with four games left — Timberwolves (home), Clippers (away), Trail Blazers (home), Timberwolves (away) — and the high-stakes finish to the season has increased the media spotlight.
Local beat writers who cover the Nuggets daily remarked at the number of additional reporters in attendance Tuesday. More than a dozen surrounded Malone. Itap a trend thatap likely to continue as long as the team is in contention — and rightfully so.
Malone alluded to his team’s place on the national radar when discussing Jokic: “He won’t get any recognition at the end of the season. … He’s Nikola Jokic and we’re Denver, so nobody is going to talk about it.” But if Tuesday was any indication, word is getting out.
The Nuggets are undoubtedly newsworthy.
— Kyle Fredrickson, The Denver Post
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What’s on tap?
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Scoreboard
NBA: Nuggets 107, Pacers 104
Full story |
MLB: Padres 8, Rockies 4
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Parting Shot
Going to the Rockies’ home opener Friday? Bring your winter gloves and your baseball gloves.
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Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
