There's been a wave of injuries in the NBA playoffs, and that includes Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
During Denver's Game 2 win Monday night to take 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Suns, Malone sported a gash on his forehead. No, he didn't catch a Nikola Jokic elbow or get in an altercation with Devin Booker. He got it from pickleball.
Pickleball paddle to the face! pic.twitter.com/i1cA3BcT3N
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) May 2, 2023
According to TNT's Spero Dedes, the famously intense Malone "took a paddle to the forehead" while playing pickleball earlier this week. He acknowledged he didn't follow his own coaching advice.
Malone told Dedes, "You know, I preach communication to my players, but it was a 50/50 ball. I didn't call it. Took a paddle to the face."
Denver's coach is known for his intensity even in off-the-court activities. During the NBA bubble in Orlando in 2020, Malone said he went on "sanity bike rides" on the track.
Two days ago, Michael Malone said the bubble has given him the chance to have some conversations with Brad Stevens. Yesterday, Stevens revealed every day he goes on “sanity walks.”
— Mike Singer (@msinger) September 6, 2020
Malone said he hasn’t been on any sanity walks with him though. He prefers “sanity bike rides.”
The reality did not sound relaxing. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Malone "maniacally sprints the track on a road bike in the sweltering heat and humidity as if he’s participating in the Tour de France. The 49-year-old zips through the course with blazing speed and then periodically pulls over to the side of the road and starts doing pushups at a frantic pace."
If that's how Malone does a relaxing bike ride, it's no wonder that he plays pickleball as a blood sport. Also, in a rare healthy postseason for Denver's players, it could simply be that someone had to get hurt.
In 2020, the Nuggets reached the conference finals with starters Gary Harris and Will Barton fighting injuries. Barton missed the first round in 2021, Michael Porter Jr. was hurt in 2022, and Jamal Murray missed both the 2021 and 2022 playoffs after tearing his ACL late in the 2020-21 season.
So Malone took one for the team, and the Nuggets have a 2-0 lead. Now they just have to avoid pickleball paddles and Booker fists.
Bruce Brown gets under Devin Booker's skin and draws the foul after Book gives him a little shove... and gives the #Nuggets a couple free clutch points as BB drains both free throws.
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) May 2, 2023
Gotta love how much Bruce has that dog in him.
Again, Calvin Booth ftw.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/HUPDvlP3e0
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