The Denver Nuggets and head coach Michael Malone agreed to a contract extension on
Tuesday.
Terms were not disclosed, but ESPN reported the deal extends through the 2022-23 season.
The Nuggets (21-8) currently have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers (24-6).
“We have been very fortunate to have Coach Malone lead our resurgence. His tireless work ethic and passion are clearly reflected in the continued improvement of our roster,” president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said in a press release.
“We are all extremely excited for him to continue to lead our team as we try to build a championship level organization.”
In his fifth season with Denver, Malone is already the fourth-winningest coach in franchise history at 194-163 (54.3 percent).
The Nuggets improved from 33 wins in his first season in 2015-16 to 40 wins in 2016-17, 46 in 2017-18 and 54 in 2018-19, making Denver the only NBA team to increase its total in each of the past four campaigns.
Last season, Denver reached the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2008-09.
“None of this would be possible without the hard work, dedication and trust from our players as well as the entire coaching staff,” Malone said in the release.
“I’d also like to thank the amazing fans in Denver who have helped make Pepsi Center one of the toughest places to play in the NBA once again. I look forward to continuing our ultimate goal of winning NBA Championships.”
Menawhile Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic is closing in on a return, which could come as soon as Dallas’ Thursday home game against the San Antonio Spurs.
The 20-year-old has missed the past four games with an ankle injury but returned to practice on Tuesday.
“I’m feeling good,” Doncic told reporters after practice. “Just taking care of it. A lot of things that we have to do, and we’re just taking care of it. We’ll see how it progresses, and we’ll see if I play.”
Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Matisse Thybulle will miss two to four weeks due to a sprained right knee, according to multiple reports.
The team is optimistic that the 2019 first-round draft pick could be cleared at the two-week evaluation date, Yahoo Sports reported. Thybulle, 22, hyperextended the knee Saturday in the fourth quarter of Philadelphia’s 125-108 win against the visiting Washington Wizards. He did not play Monday in the 76ers’ 125-109 road win against the Detroit Pistons.
Thybulle is averaging 4.8 points, 1.4 steals, 1.2 assists, 1.1 rebounds and 17.6 minutes in 30 games (three starts). He is shooting 46.3 percent (31 of 67) from 3-point range.
Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Monday in Phoenix. (Getty Images/AFP)
