DENVER — When asked pregame if the Nuggets’ matchups with the Sacramento Kings are “just another game,” Michael Malone gave the politically correct answer that there was no extra significance, intensity, or meaning behind Monday night’s matchup.
It was the right answer in the moment with only 20 games remaining in the regular season and Denver battling for a playoff spot with the Kings and a slew of other Western Conference teams, but Malone was 0-6 against his former employer before tonight. Putting yourself in his shoes, it would be hard to treat a matchup with Sacramento as just one of 82.