Even Nuggets coach isn't safe from playoff injuries

According to TNT's Spero Dedes, the famously intense Malone "took a paddle to the forehead" while playing pickleball earlier this week. He acknowledged he didn't follow his own coaching advice.

Malone told Dedes, "You know, I preach communication to my players, but it was a 50/50 ball. I didn't call it. Took a paddle to the face."

Denver's coach is known for his intensity even in off-the-court activities. During the NBA bubble in Orlando in 2020, Malone said he went on "sanity bike rides" on the track.

The reality did not sound relaxing. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Malone "maniacally sprints the track on a road bike in the sweltering heat and humidity as if he’s participating in the Tour de France. The 49-year-old zips through the course with blazing speed and then periodically pulls over to the side of the road and starts doing pushups at a frantic pace."

If that's how Malone does a relaxing bike ride, it's no wonder that he plays pickleball as a blood sport. Also, in a rare healthy postseason for Denver's players, it could simply be that someone had to get hurt.

In 2020, the Nuggets reached the conference finals with starters Gary Harris and Will Barton fighting injuries. Barton missed the first round in 2021, Michael Porter Jr. was hurt in 2022, and Jamal Murray missed both the 2021 and 2022 playoffs after tearing his ACL late in the 2020-21 season.

So Malone took one for the team, and the Nuggets have a 2-0 lead. Now they just have to avoid pickleball paddles and Booker fists.