Malone: N.Y. felt change was needed on bench
DENVER — Nuggets coach Mike Malone has the distinction of being a Knicks coach-killer the last few years.
Twice in the past four years, Malone’s Nuggets have beaten the Knicks at the Garden and the franchise fired its coach right after.
Denver’s 37-point walloping of the Knicks 10 days ago spelled the end for David Fizdale. In 2016, the Nuggets took out Phil Jackson’s Knicks and Derek Fisher got bounced.
“Are you insinuating that it’s my fault?’’ Malone cracked before the Knicks’ 111-105 loss to the Nuggets. “That’s just unlucky timing.”
A Westchester product, Malone is an ex-Knicks assistant and wondered aloud if Fizdale was “a fall guy’’ for a larger issue.
“They needed to make a change they felt was appropriate,’’ Malone said before Sunday night’s game. “So much has been written about since David was fired. Is David a fall guy? Does it start up higher — front office, ownership. I can’t answer those questions. I know Fiz is a good coach. I know he’s a good man and I know all those players in that locker room still believe in him.”
➤ Interim coach Mike Miller would not say whether Dennis
Smith Jr. is out of the rotation, but it’s clear he is. Smith missed his third straight game and his second straight via coach’s decision.
With Frank Ntilikina (13 points, four assists, five steals) excelling and
Elfrid Payton stepping up in the second half to finish with a near tripledouble (10 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds), Smith was odd man out again. Smith, the key piece of the Kris
taps Porzingis trade, did not play against Sacramento Friday and missed the Knicks’ win over Golden State on Wednesday with a migraine.
“He’s healthy, well and everybody’s available,’’ Miller said before the game. “The strategy is whatever we need. Their point guards are explosive. We go in knowing we have confidence in three guys. We see that as an advantage.
➤ With two guards on the shelf in
Wayne Ellington( sore Achilles) and Allonzo Trier (concussion), guard Kadeem Allen joined the Knicks here, but did not play. Trier may be available when the Knicks return to the Garden for Tuesday’s game with the Hawks.