After watching LeBron James go to the line 14 times and seeing Jamal Murray hit the floor a few times without a whistle late in Game 4, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said his team might do what the Los Angeles Lakers did and reach out to the NBA about fouls.
"They went to the foul line 35 times," Malone said after the Lakers took a 3-1 lead over Denver in the Western Conference finals with a 114-108 victory on Thursday in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. "I think I'm going to have to go through the proper channels like they did to see if we can figure out how we can get some more free throws."
Malone was referencing what Lakers coach Frank Vogel said on Wednesday when asked about James' 10 total trips to the free throw line in the previous three games of the West finals. Vogel said the Lakers "were dealing with the fouls through the proper channels with the league."
On Thursday, James made 11-of-14 from the line and finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Lakers forward Anthony Davis made 13 of 14 free throws and scored 34 points. The superstar duo's 24 combined free throws made were more than Denver's 23 overall trips to the line.
Asked if the Lakers' tactic of going to the league about foul calls worked, Malone said he didn't know.
"I just know they went 35 [times] and we went 23," Malone said. "I think late in the game Jamal Murray attacked the basket a few times where it appeared to be contact. We'll watch the film and send our clips in. We'll reach out to the NBA and kind of make our points noted. Whether them going through the proper channels affected tonight or not, I have no idea. The NBA does a great job of listening. You hope that next game maybe some of those fouls are called."
Murray scored 32 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets guard also went to the line four times in the final frame, but Murray said he felt he should have had more free throws. He missed on two driving layups in the last 3 minutes, 46 seconds when the Nuggets trailed by four and three points, respectively.
"Respectfully, obviously, they're trying to do their job," Murray said when asked what kind of feedback he got back from the officials. "I mean, I did get fouled on a few. We could see the replay clearly. The same thing when [Utah Jazz's] Rudy Gobert fouled me when we lost Game 4 [in the first round]. ... My team shows respect any time you talk to them."
"LeBron is going to go get his," Murray added. "But we just have to look ahead and play through it. ... We're a young team. We're the younger team, youngest team, whatever we are. Look at where we're at. We're going to have to earn their respect if we're going to want to prevail."
After Game 1, in which the Lakers went to the line 24 times in the second quarter during a 126-114 win, Murray said, "They want to talk about every call and have full conversations and try to manipulate what happens" and that the younger Nuggets know the deal.
As in Game 1, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was in foul trouble with five in Game 4. But Malone said fouls were not what decided Thursday's game; it was the Lakers' 25 second-chance points. Center Dwight Howard, who was inserted into the starting lineup, had six offensive rebounds, and guard Rajon Rondo had two. Those were as impactful as anything in the game.
"That was the reason we lost this game," Malone said. "Most disappointing was it happened from the jump ball. I thought Dwight Howard in that first half had a tremendous impact on the game."
"Possessions where we played really good defense," Malone added, "and just didn't finish it, which gave them extra possessions, extra life, extra opportunities. The ability to defend without fouling."
Now the Nuggets find themselves in what was actually their sweet spot in the first and second rounds: They're down 3-1 again, a hole they overcame to beat both the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers.
Malone and the Nuggets will need another monster game from Murray next time out. And they hope the guard will get some favorable calls in Saturday's Game 5, as well.
"I played him I think the last three games, including tonight, 45, 44, 43 [minutes]," Malone said. "I'm running the poor kid into the ground. When I take him out, things seem to go sideways in a hurry. He's gotten the best of everybody. He's had last series [Patrick] Beverley, Kawhi [Leonard], Paul George. He's getting Danny Green, [Kentavious] Caldwell-Pope, Rondo, [Alex] Caruso and now LeBron. That's the ultimate sign of respect.
"Again, I thought late he had a couple really aggressive drives to the basket. I'll have to look at the film. I thought there was contact. Wasn't called. That happens. But I think in those situations, also have to understand he's attracting so much pressure and a crowd, he has to look to make a play for somebody else and get off of it. I know he's able to do that because he's shown that he can."