Coach Michael Malone is a numbers guy.
Of course, he knows that his Nuggets lead the Lakers 3-1 and can close out the first-round playoff series Monday night at Ball Arena. But he’s also acutely aware of statistical trends floating like icebergs, threatening Denver’s voyage toward a second straight NBA championship.
Such as:
• The Nuggets have shot 46.0% from the floor, including an ugly 27.6% on 3-pointers. Los Angeles has made 49.9% of its shots (30.4% on 3-pointers).
• The Lakers have led in 136 of the series’ 192 minutes, a 70.8% clip. The Nuggets have only led for 21.