David Adelman’s postgame comments after a playoff loss have raised questions about his future as head coach of the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets lost Game 4 of the playoffs 112-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 25, 2026. This defeat puts them down 3-1 in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points off the bench for the Timberwolves in Game 4. The Timberwolves were missing key players Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo during this game. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic was ejected with just one second left on the clock, further complicating matters for Denver.
The Nuggets shot just 18.8% from the field in the fourth quarter. They were outscored by the Timberwolves’ bench 76 to 16, indicating a significant disparity in performance. Despite having a four-point lead at halftime, they could not maintain their advantage.
Adelman described the media narrative about his team’s performance as “hilarious.” He emphasized that he felt his players were competitive throughout the match. “I thought we were extremely competitive…. I thought our guys played their asses off,” he stated in response to criticism.
The Nuggets were ultimately eliminated from the playoffs in six games by the Timberwolves. This marked only the second time in Nikola Jokic’s career that his team exited in the opening round of the playoffs. Following this outcome, discussions about potential coaching changes have intensified.
Key statistics from Game 4:
- Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points for Minnesota.
- The Nuggets shot 18.8% from the field in the fourth quarter.
- The Timberwolves’ bench outscored Denver’s bench by 60 points.
Adelman remarked, “I don’t care what you write, I really don’t, I know what the team feels.” His comments reflect both defiance and concern as speculation about his coaching future looms large.
