Following a disappointing 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone expressed his frustration with the team's performance. When questioned about the possibility of simply moving on from this significant defeat, Malone emphasized the need to address the shortcomings rather than dismiss them. 'We’re not flushing. You don’t flush when you get embarrassed, you don’t flush when you gave up 145 points, you don’t flush when you didn’t play hard and didn’t play with effort,' Malone remarked, underscoring the team's struggles on both ends of the floor.

The Knicks quickly established control of the game, jumping out to a 12-point lead in the first quarter and extending it to 23 points by halftime. New York dominated various aspects of play, achieving a shooting percentage of 60.9% from the field and 52.8% from beyond the arc, while also converting 14 of their 16 free-throw attempts. The Knicks outperformed the Nuggets in rebounding (43-33) and in assists, recording 45 compared to Denver's 23. Despite Russell Westbrook's standout performance, leading the Nuggets with 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, Malone pointedly addressed the need for increased contribution from the team's key players, Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, who combined for 42 points but fell short in their effectiveness.

Malone noted, 'We need more than Russell Westbrook. I need Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, I need guys that have been here in that starting lineup to be vocal.' He lamented the team’s lack of effort and toughness, indicating that these were areas they needed to improve upon as they moved forward. With this loss, the Nuggets dropped to 9-7 on the season, tying with the Phoenix Suns for seventh in the Western Conference. The team has struggled since a five-game winning streak, now having lost four of their last six contests. The Knicks, on the other hand, improved to 10-7 and have won five of their past six games, showcasing their strong performance in recent outings. Denver will aim to rebound as they prepare to face the struggling Utah Jazz on the road before the Thanksgiving break.