CHICAGO — Michael Malone has called earlier timeouts and angrier timeouts, but the one he took Monday might have been his most clairvoyant.
It was two minutes and seven seconds into the game, and the Nuggets trailed the Bulls, 10-8. Denver was perfect on offense, 4 for 4 from the field on four possessions. But Chicago had scored every time down the floor as well. Consecutive 3-pointers for Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu were enough to force Malone’s eager hand.
“I knew right away. That’s why I took that (timeout),” he said after a 129-121 loss at the United Center.