The Denver Nuggets continue to dominate the Los Angeles Lakers, with the reigning and defending NBA champions starting to pull away from their rivals in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. It hasn’t been easy work for Denver thus far, though, as the Nuggets had to come from behind to beat the Lakers in each of the two meetings.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Malone said that the successful come-from-behind victory in Game 2 was more of a product of the team’s familiarity with each other than any schemes the team drew up on the whiteboard.

Michael Malone on the Nuggets’ Game 2 comeback: “Xs and Os, drawing up a play, that’s all good. That’s fine. What it ultimately comes down to is relationships, and the connection, the chemistry, the love that our group has for each other.”