DENVER — The only thing hotter than Jamal Murray’s jumper Wednesday night might have been his temper.
The Denver guard was still carrying a grudge against the Portland Trail Blazers over being ejected for trash talking Monday night. Facing them again two days later, Murray let his play do his chirping with a career-best 55 points in the Nuggets’ 132-121 victory.
“They shouldn’t have done that,” said Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, referring to the Blazers about the trash talk. “When he’s mad, there’s no one in the world that can stop him.”
Murray conjured up visions of “Playoff Murray” in Denver’s last game before the All-Star break. He was difficult to guard when he helped led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023.
He was difficult to contain Wednesday, too, hitting one long-range shot after another on his way to a 30-point first half. When the Trail Blazers changed their tactics in the second half, Murray adjusted, too, and attacked the rim.
Murray was 20-of-36 from the floor, including seven 3-pointers, to become just the third Nuggets players with a 55-point game. It’s the third-most points in franchise history, trailing only David Thompson’s 73-point game on April 9, 1978, and teammate Nikola Jokic’s 56-point effort Dec. 7.
Murray and Jokic are just the fourth duo to each have a 55-point game in the same season in NBA history, according to ESPN Research.
“He was just ultra-aggressive tonight,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “As a coach, obviously watching one of your players have that type of game, just so proud of him and happy for him. He’s been playing at a high level for us. And tonight was his best game ever from a numbers standpoint.”
The Blazers drew his ire in Denver’s 146-117 victory Monday. Murray picked up a technical in the third quarter and another in the fourth for some talking after finishing a three-point play.
It led to his ejection — and to his fuel for Wednesday.
“It’s just all competitive spirit,” Murray said. “I came ready to play. Especially just being used to the playoffs and playing the same team over and over, and they know your plays and things get chippy and you have to see them again. So, I think just that kind of factor made me ready to go. I was truly prepared today.”
For his efforts, he received the game ball signed by all of his teammates. He brought it with him to the postgame news conference.
“It’s just years of chemistry with those guys,” Murray said. “They know me. I know them, and tonight was just them looking out for me. I know I shot the ball well, but I brought the ball up here just because I couldn’t do it without them. That’s why we’re such a good team.”
His scoring spree overshadowed another stellar performance by Jokic, who had 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 25th triple-double of the season. It’s the third-most triple-doubles before the All-Star break in league history, trailing only Oscar Robertson’s 28 in the 1961-62 season and Russell Westbrook’s 27 in 2016-17, according to ESPN Research.
Malone made sure to spotlight Jokic’s performance, saying people often don’t talk about him because of his “expected greatness.”
“Please, let’s never take Nikola’s greatness for granted,” Malone said. “We are witnessing history every single night. I don’t take it for granted. He’s incredible, and I really feel fortunate and blessed to have coached him for 10 years now.”
Murray had a little bit of everything going, including his explosiveness despite dealing with nagging injuries this season such as left knee and hamstring inflammation and a sprained right ankle.
“I feel the same,” he said. “I’ve been the same person, same player, for years now. … I came in ready to go today. I was hopping before the game started, and that’s just because of the last game.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source link
