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DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 18: Head coach David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets directs his team against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

After losing Game 2 against Minnesota, the Denver Nuggets are tied 1-1 in the series. Following that loss, Jaden McDaniels had some comments calling out the entire Denver team over their defense. In fact, he called them all bad defenders.

“Go at Jokic, Jamal, all the bad defenders. Tim Hardaway, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, their whole team. Yeah, they’re bad defenders,” McDaniels said after Game 2.

That comment clearly is giving some motivation to Denver before the rest of the series is played. McDaniels is not concerned about giving the Nuggets any bulletin board material. Head coach David Adelman crushed McDaniels for his comments, clearly hinting that the team is using them for motivation.

Nuggets’ David Adelman Shuts Down Jaden McDaniels’ Comments

Speaking with the media ahead of Game 3, Adelman made it clear that he disagrees with McDaniels’ characterization of his team.

“I can’t wait for his podcast.”

When he was asked if it would give his team any extra motivation, Adelman said it didn’t matter to him.

“Uh, I don’t know. Not for me. I think the narrative is really interesting, too. You hear so many things, and we’ve gotten really lazy in society. What’s our defensive rating in this series through two games? 109? How is that? Sixth-best in the playoffs? Okay. Next.”

Adelman knows that the narrative that his team is bad on defense simply isn’t true. He isn’t worried about Denver through the first two games on that end of the court. In the regular season, the Nuggets had the 10th-worst defense in the NBA. Part of that is because of the various injuries they suffered throughout the year.

The Nuggets and the Timberwolves have developed a rivalry over the last few years. These two teams have played in the postseason three times in the last four years. Each of them has won a series between them.

Denver Players Respond to Jaden McDaniels’ Comments

Cameron Johnson was asked about McDaniels’ comments. He clearly wasn’t happy with them, either.

“They just been saying a lot. All season, all series. Let them talk. Let them get everything they want off their chest.”

Christian Braun had similar feelings about the comments, as well.

“It’s part of the rivalry…He’s kinda speaking his truth and what he believes. We’ll allow them to do that. We kinda want to take care of our own.”

Nikola Jokic is statistically the best offensive player in basketball. The Timberwolves still have to figure out how to stop him, which is not easy. Jokic helped lead the Nuggets to having the top offensive rating during the regular season, even with all of the injuries to his teammates.

It’s clear that the entire team heard McDaniels’ comments and took them to heart. The Nuggets will take on the Timberwolves in Game 3 on Thursday night in Minnesota.