Michael Malone calls out Nuggets' effort in Game 2 Finals loss - ESPN

DENVER — A disgusted Michael Malone called out the Denver Nuggets' effort following another fourth-quarter defensive no-show that allowed the Miami Heat to even the NBA Finals.

The Nuggets coach was incredulous after watching the Heat shoot 68.8% and score 36 points in the fourth quarter to take Game 2 111-108 at Ball Arena on Sunday night.

«Let's talk about effort,» Malone said of the biggest issue plaguing Denver in Game 2. «This is the NBA Finals. We are talking about effort. That's a huge concern of mine. You guys probably thought I was just making up some storyline after Game 1 when I said we didn't play well. We didn't play well.

»Tonight, the starting lineup to start the game, it was 10-2 Miami. Start of the third quarter, they scored 11 points in [just over two minutes]. We had guys out there that were just, whether feeling sorry for themselves for not making shots or thinking they can just turn it on or off — this is not the preseason, this is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. That, to me, is really, really perplexing, disappointing."

The Nuggets wasted a 41-point effort by Nikola Jokic in the loss. But Miami did something that has been successful for Nuggets' opponents this postseason: letting Jokic score but trying to take away his teammates.

Denver dropped to 0-3 this postseason when Jokic scores 40 or more points, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Nuggets are 13-1 when the two-time MVP scores fewer than 40 points.

Compared to Game 1, when Jokic had 10 assists but took only three shots by halftime, the center was more aggressive offensively on Sunday. He scored 18 points in the third quarter, but Miami made him work. If Game 1 was Jokic orchestrating a Nuggets offensive