Michal Porter Jr. expects tougher challenge from Heat in close-out game than Suns gave Nuggets
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Michael Malone ‘didn’t envision’ Nuggets up 30 points at half on Suns in Game 6 closeout
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Denver has only lost once since dropping Game 4 against Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals.
That seems so long ago, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone doesn’t recall his team freaking out over being tied 2-2 in that series.
“There was no stress level,” Malone said Sunday to reporters in Denver. “… We realized that we were playing against a team that most people had picked to come out of the Western Conference. Understandably so, with the talent level that they had. So I can’t say that we were stressed coming home into Game 5. We knew that we had a terrific home-court advantage and our fans would show up and we would play a lot better.”
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The No. 1-seeded Nuggets won Game 5 in Denver by 16 and blasted the fourth-seeded Suns in Game 6 by 25 points to advance. The Suns were without Chris Paul the last four games of the series with a groin injury while Deandre Ayton missed Game 6 with a rib contusion suffered in Game 5.
“I think now when you go back to Phoenix for a Game 6 and a chance to close it out, I didn’t envision us being up by 30 at halftime (81-51),” Malone continued. “But it just kind of speaks to our guys understanding that in the close-out game, we did not rely upon having Game 7 in our pocket to go home and play again in front of our fans.”
Denver enters tonight’s Game 5 at home up 3-1 on eighth-seeded Miami with a chance to capture its first NBA championship.
“When you start relying upon things like that, you get yourself into trouble,” Malone continued. “So that’s why I say, (Monday’s) game, we’re down 3-1. This is a must-win for us, and hopefully, if that’s the mentality our guys can go out there and play with, we’ll put ourselves in a great position.”
If the Heat stay alive with a win, Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Miami.
“They are desperate; we have to be more desperate,” Malone said. “They are hungry; we have to be hungrier. There is no celebrating after Game 4. We have another game that we have to win, and the close-out game is always the hardest game ever. So I’m looking forward to seeing our approach.”
Denver has won its last three close-out games with the last two being on the road against the Suns and the Lakers. The Nuggets won Game 5 against the Timberwolves at home.
“My hope is (Monday) night in front of this incredible crowd and incredible environment that the players understand the opportunity in front of them and take full advantage.”
Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. noted how Denver ran through Phoenix in Game 6.
He’s not expecting that kind of game Monday against Miami.
“I think this team is different than the other teams we’ve faced,” Porter Jr. said to reporters in Denver.
“They’re relentless. They’re going to come in full force. We ended up actually blowing Phoenix out in Phoenix, but we know (Monday) is not going to be like that. But one thing about this team is we just have a game-by-game mentality, so we’re viewing it as we’re down 3-1, we’re not up 3-1 right now. We’ve got to win (Monday). That’s our mindset, and that’s pretty much how we’ve done all playoffs and these elimination games.”
Phoenix is the only team to hand Denver two losses in this year’s playoffs. The Nuggets eliminated Minnesota in five games in the first round and swept the Lakers in the conference finals.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Michael Porter Jr. expects tougher challenge from Heat in close-out game than Suns gave Nuggets