Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone threw shade at the renowned "Heat Culture" after his team secured a 100-88 victory on Wednesday, March 13, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, in a rematch of the 2023 NBA Finals.

"Part of culture-because we do have a culture in Denver as well. Part of our culture is being selfless, getting over yourself. And I think that's another example of how our team is always getting over the individual and thinking about the collective," the 52-year-old tactician said.

"Heat Culture" is often depicted as a defining aspect of the Miami Heat franchise, embodying the values of being the hardest working, best-conditioned, most professional, unselfish, and toughest squad in the NBA.

Nuggets move on top of the Western Conference

With the victory over the Heat, the Nuggets surpassed the Oklahoma City Thunder to claim the top spot in the highly competitive Western Conference.

For the majority of the ongoing season, this position has been held by both the Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"If we can get [the No. 1 seed], sure, we're going to take it. And we're not going to shy away from that. You know, it was very effective for us last year, having home-court throughout the entirety of the playoffs," the Nuggets head coach said.

The Nuggets have been outstanding since the All-Star break, boasting an NBA-best record of 10-1.