The Denver Nuggets faced a unique situation against the Detroit Pistons: they played most of the game without their coach and their most important star. Coach Mike Malone and Nikola Jokic were both ejected during the first half after picking up two technical fouls each.
Mike Malone was ejected after arguing furiously late in the first quarter while Nikola Jokic was ejected after complaining about a missed call late in the second period.
In the end, the Nuggets beat the Pistons 107 to 103 despite Jokic playing only 15 minutes (9 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST). Speaking to the media after the game, Coach Malone said watching the challenge from the locker room was difficult.
“During the game you see things. When you watch on TV, you see everything. It’s hard to watch, I’ll limit myself to that. It’s hard to watch, but it’s good to see a win. When you make a good play, we clap our fists, we are excited, we hug. When you don’t make a good play, I curse in Serbian.” Malone said. “I know.” replied when asked if he knows the swear words in Serbian. “I have been with him for 9 years.”.
Nikola Jokić EJECTED 😱 pic.twitter.com/bf5BShXEAo
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 21, 2023
Michael Malone picks up two technical fouls and is ejected from Nuggets-Pistons. pic.twitter.com/gyzSfZIlJN
– Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) November 21, 2023
Read also: Luca Banchi controversial with referees after Virtus-Brescia: “Indecipherable! No excuses, be more careful”
Graduated in Communication Humanities from the State University of Milan. He has been dedicated to basketball – no longer playing it – since 2006 when he got hooked on basketball thanks to Wade&Shaq’s Miami Heat. His idols are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade and Marco Belinelli. He has been collaborating with Basketball Universe since January 2019.
