Denver Nuggets begin post Michael Malone era trying not to fall apart against the Sacramento Kings

LOS ANGELES – Following the stunning removal of coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on April 8, the Denver Nuggets are on the road on April 9 (April 10, Singapore time) to face the Sacramento Kings with David Adelman overseeing the final three games of their regular season.

A four-game losing streak dropped Denver (47-32) into a six-team tangle of Western Conference teams vying to either land home-court advantage in the upcoming play-offs or avoid the play-in round.

The Nuggets began their earth-shattering April 8 1½ games behind the third-placed Los Angeles Lakers, ahead of the Lakers’ 136-120 loss to the National Basketball Association-leading Oklahoma City.

Denver are now level with the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies, and a game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Denver are the second team in the West’s play-off muddle to fire their coach down the stretch. Memphis, one of the Nuggets’ final two regular-season opponents, relieved Taylor Jenkins of his duties on March 28.

Malone’s dismissal comes just two years after leading Denver to their only NBA championship. His 471 victories are the most in the franchise’s history.

Adelman, a Nuggets assistant since 2017, is taking on his first head-coaching duties since leading Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon, to a city championship in 2011.

Josh Kroenke, vice-chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, said the shock move was done “with the intention of giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship”.

The pursuit of play-off positioning already faced uncertainty for the Nuggets, with Jamal Murray sidelined until at least the start of the play-offs with a hamstring injury.

Denver were without the guard for all four losses in their ongoing skid. Christian Braun scored 30 points in a 125-120 loss to the Indiana