DENVER (AP)— As the horror of losing a 20-point Game 7 lead sank in, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone restated what had become an underlying mantra for his talented but lean club.
“I consider the San Antonio Spurs a dynasty, and they never won back-to-back,” remarked Malone, referring to the team that won the NBA title every other year from 2003 to 2007.
The Nuggets will have to try to stick to that recipe now that their quest to become the first repeat champion since Golden State in 2018 ended Sunday night with a 98-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and emerging star Anthony Edwards.
Jamal Murray rebounded from an elbow injury and a dismal Game 6 with 35 points.
The two combined for 32 second-half points, but their supporting cast contributed only five points — a three-pointer from Michael Porter Jr. and a bucket from Christian Braun — as the Wolves triumphed for the third time in four games at Ball Arena.
Porter, in particular, was hampered by Minnesota’s elite defense. After averaging 22.8 points and 8.4 rebounds in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, MPJ was limited to 11.3 points and 5.4 boards in Round 2.
Porter blamed himself for the Nuggets’ earlier than expected summer vacation plans.
“There are a lot of things we could’ve done differently as a team,” Porter stated. “But I know if I had done my share, we would have won the series. And I have
