Michael Malone sends stern warning to Denver Nuggets bench after brutal loss

With Friday's blowout loss to the Houston Rockets, the Denver Nuggets have officially been bounced from the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament. The reigning NBA champions finished the group-stage with a record of 2-2 and a point differential of -10.

After the 105-86 defeat in Houston, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was none too pleased with his reserves. The man in charge took the opportunity to put them on notice in his post-game press conference.

"I just told them, I'm going to start playing different people," Malone told reporters postgame (h/t Harrison Wind). "You just can't go out there because you think you're going to play and go out there and do nothing. You've got to bring something to the party. "

The Denver Nuggets didn't get much from their bench against the Houston Rockets

Malone's message to his bench came after they put on a rough display against the Rockets.

The six reserves who took the floor for Denver in Houston combined to score just 10 points while shooting just 4-of-15 from the field. Things looked rough during Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther's brief appearances in the In-Season Tournament finale. In just under six minutes of play, Watson logged a +/- of -18 and Strawther was a -15.

It looks like the Nuggets are finally beginning to feel the departure of Bruce Brown, who left town to join the Indiana Pacers over the summer. Brown served as a key piece of Denver's success on their way to their first-ever NBA title last season.

Christian Braun has been solid in Brown's absence, averaging 9.5 points per game on 48.4% shooting from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.

Friday's loss marks Denver's third in their last four games, bringing their overall record to 10-6 on the season. Of course, things will improve when Jamal Murray returns from injury. Murray has missed the last nine games after injuring his hamstring earlier this month.