Jaden McDaniels critiques Nuggets: ‘They lack defensive skills’
DENVER — Jaden McDaniels made perhaps his most significant remark following Minnesota’s 119-114 playoff victory over Denver in Game 2 on Monday night.
The Timberwolves forward essentially criticized all the Nuggets’ players as ineffective defenders, including All-Stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
“Attack Jokic, Jamal, all the poor defenders,” stated McDaniels, who contributed 14 points and three assists. “Tim Hardaway (Jr.), Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, the entire team, just go at them.”
So, are they all ineffective defenders?
“Yes, they are all ineffective defenders,” McDaniels confirmed.
The Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to level the first-round series, which will move to Minnesota for Game 3 on Thursday night. Anthony Edwards led the team with 30 points despite dealing with a sore knee, and he also recorded 10 rebounds.
“They lack players who can protect the rim,” McDaniels noted. “We are still more athletic than them and just need to finish our opportunities.”
Jokic recorded 24 points and 15 rebounds, all on the defensive end, while Murray added 30 points. However, the duo combined for just 2 of 12 shooting, totaling four points in the fourth quarter. Murray had an opportunity to tie the game with a 3-pointer in the final moments but chose to attempt a 2-point shot instead.
He missed.
“I was pleased he went for the two points,” Edwards remarked. “I thought he had a solid look at a 3 when he first came off, but he opted for the 2-pointer. I suppose if he had made it, we would have been in a free-throw situation. But yes, I’m somewhat glad he took the 2-pointer.”
Murray expressed that he “didn’t convert enough shots tonight.”
“That’s really all there is to it,” he added. “We all could have performed better. It’s not solely on one individual; that’s just how the game unfolds at times. They played hard as well. It was a competitive game. I felt we had control of the game, but we simply didn’t make enough shots, in my view.”
