NBA Fans Irate at Refs for How They Handled Michael Malone’s Game 2 Meltdown

The officials should have done something here.

Michael Malone went off on the refs after a no-call in the first quarter. /

Michael Malone and the Nuggets are in serious trouble in their series with the Timberwolves after getting blown out in Game 2, 106-80, in front of their home crowd on Monday night. Minnesota now leads the series 2-0.

NBA fans, meanwhile, wondered why Malone didn't get in actual trouble when he ran out on the court in the first quarter to yell at the refs during a break in the action.

Malone was furious and had to be separated from an official yet somehow he didn't get called for a technical foul, even though it clearly looked like he should have been whistled for one.

Here's how that played out:

MICHAEL MALONE GETS IN THE REFS FACE. 😳

pic.twitter.com/RB3WVm8gRO

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 7, 2024

Fans ripped the refs and the NBA for not laying down some sort of punishment on Malone, especially since players can get technicals for doing far less worse in games:

They give techs for looking at someone but when Malone screaming in the refs face they don’t give a tech okay @NBA https://t.co/tu679mmkXb

— j (@lockedupjb) May 7, 2024

Ant Man gets a tech for looking at opposition player.

Malone gets NOTHING when screaming in a refs face.

NBA officiating is more inconsistent than the Premier League.

It's actually insulting for fans and Adam Silver needs to address how poor the officiating has been all… https://t.co/5H6rxrEPJc

— With The English Podcast (@WithTheEnglish1) May 7, 2024

Something like this not getting a tech and/or ejection but stare downs and hanging on the rim getting an instant tech drives me crazy https://t.co/VsUi8OQeC9

— karin. 🇦🇲 (@KarinAbcarians) May 7, 2024

Malone not getting a tech for this is genuinely insane 😭😭😭 Like that alone is enough reason to question whether or not this is fixed in Denver’s favor https://t.co/xBDvguy7Eh

— Dave Schillero (@Dave_Schillero) May 7, 2024

Michael Malone not even getting a technical here is insane. Legit the most mad I’ve ever seen a coach without getting a T

There is just no standard from a game-by-gam standpoint for refereeing. Continues to be a major NBA issuepic.twitter.com/nTBFBVYFA0

— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) May 7, 2024

Hey @NBA y'all have a consistency problem when it comes to officiating. #wolvesback https://t.co/gCURSYC8EF

— Unreal Minnesota Sports Fan (@mossednsauced) May 7, 2024

This dude should've been tossed or at least a bloody tech 🤬 That's blatant disrespect barking in a refs face like that. What the hell?? @NBA #NBAPlayoffs https://t.co/gH6WxMizhn

— Nipun Heendeni (@NipunNavaratne) May 7, 2024

Franz got a tech for pointing a finger https://t.co/9m89BWkjua

— Magic4L (@MagicCastle407) May 7, 2024

NBA refs just taking over the playoffs man.. https://t.co/aG1xzrpwRY

— Adam (@ND__Adam) May 7, 2024

Game 3 of the series is Friday night in Minneapolis.