On Jan. 14 in Dallas, Malone stood up for Murray when he told reporters that “the microscope on Jamal is a little intense” and that “everybody’s just gotta kind of let the kid breathe a little bit.” Denver’s point guard had started the season slow, but he had scored 45 points in a win that day.

Denver Nuggets players grew tired of Michael Malone giving Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray “preferential treatment,” an NBA source told Hoops Wire. The Nuggets fired Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on Tuesday.

Jamal Murray missed his fifth consecutive game for the Denver Nuggets on Sunday with a strained right hamstring and coach Michael Malone said “hopefully” his star point guard will be back for the start of the NBA playoffs.