On Saturday night, the Denver Nuggets kicked off their second-round matchup with the Phoenix Suns. They were able to pick up a blowout win thanks to a stellar performance from one of their key players.
After missing all of last season due to an ACL injury, Jamal Murray was able to return to the Nuggets’ lineup this season. He appeared in 65 games during the regular season and looked like the player we are accustomed to seeing.
In Game 1 against the Suns, Murray erupted for 34 points, five rebounds, and nine assists. This performance had many people comparing it to his level of play during the NBA bubble back in 2020.
Following this performance, Murray got some high praise from his superstar teammate. When asked about the game, Nikola Jokic made the bold remark of saying that his point guard is the team’s best player.
“He is playing amazing,” said back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic, who had 24 points and 19 rebounds. “He is definitely showing what he is capable of. He is our best player, and we are following him right now.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic & Denver Nuggets Updates
Considering that Jokic is in the mix to win his third-straight MVP, this remark caught quite a lot of people by surprise. While some might not agree with it, there is no denying how impactful Murray has been so far in the postseason.
Through six playoff matchups, Murray is currently leading Denver in scoring at 28.3 PPG. He is also doing this with great efficiency (48.4% FG and 46.2% 3P). This elevated level of play has the Nuggets looking like a team that can make a run at the NBA title.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic & Denver Nuggets Updates
It goes without saying how important it is for guys like Murray to get hot for Denver right now. When he is attracting so much attention, it allows the floor to open for Jokic to do damage. If he can stay at this level all playoffs, the Nuggets are going to be an extremely tough team to beat in a seven-game series.
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