Even though he was still recovering from an illness, Jamal Murray was the difference maker the Denver Nuggets needed. He was instrumental in their 119-107 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Murray had been questionable coming into the game. When he woke up that morning not feeling well, it put a question mark on his performance. Despite playing through the injury, he still played a game-high 42 minutes, a true testament to his power and will.
The extent of a brutal night for Murray, including an episode during the game in which he couldn’t catch his breath. Still, he fought his way through and gave a stellar performance. He finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists! His effort was incredibly important. It proved invaluable in helping the Nuggets to force a winner-take-all Game 7 in their playoff series against the Thunder.
The day before the game, Murray had already been treated, including receiving intravenous fluids. Even with his ankle seemingly improving, he wasn’t officially cleared to play until about 45 minutes before tipoff. His late decision raised the stakes for Murray, who was acutely aware of what his presence on the court could mean.
It didn’t take him long to make his impact felt, either, as he knocked down an and-1 3-pointer for the Nuggets’ first basket of the game. Murray got off to a great start, scoring 11 points in the opening quarter and helping set the stage for a record-breaking night. With his illness, he still managed an average of 27.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in those like playoff games this season.
In a new interview, Murray himself reflected on how he was able to power through the metaphorical pain.
“He opened the game really good for us, and he set the tone, but I don’t think this [illness] affected him at all,” – Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets were at their most formidable with Murray on the floor. They were a ridiculous plus-28 against the Thunder with him on the floor. Their 3-2 victory earned them a critical place in Game 7. It highlighted Murray’s strength of will and leadership, and ability to navigate a tempestuous environment.
“Once the game starts, the team needs you and the adrenaline kicks in,” – Jamal Murray
As the squad gets ready for their next match up, Murray spoke on recovery and being ready for game seven. He promised that he would kickstart the recovery process as soon as possible so that he would be in peak condition for the winner-takes-all game.
As Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pointed out after their thunderous defeat, it was a gladiatorial bout.
“I’m going to start the recovery process now and make sure I am getting ready for Game 7,” – Jamal Murray
Both teams are aware of the stakes involved in Game 7, as they vie for a spot in the next round of the playoffs. For Murray and the Nuggets, this upcoming game presents an opportunity to build on their momentum from this crucial win.
“Obviously, it was a win-or-die situation for them, and they came out with a sense of urgency and jumped on us right away,” – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Looking ahead, both teams are aware of the stakes involved in Game 7, as they vie for a spot in the next round of the playoffs. For Murray and the Nuggets, this upcoming game presents an opportunity to build on their momentum from this crucial win.
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