The Nuggets needed Jamal Murray to show up and be a true co-star for Nikola Jokic on Thursday night, and boy, did he ever, helping his team gut out a 119-107 Game 6 victory. Much to the surprise and horror of fans, Murray popped up on the injury report early in the afternoon and was listed as questionable with an illness.
News started to trickle out during the day that Murray was not feeling well at all and was truly a game-time decision. David Adelman admitted the team had made alternate plans if Jamal wasn’t able to go, and when he missed his normal pregame routine, the panic meter was really starting to crank up.
But shortly before tip-off, Murray was announced as a starter, available to play and try to help his team stave off elimination against the Thunder. And as if there was any doubt, Murray looked as good as ever.
He came out hot early, getting the Ball Arena crowd going with 13 first-quarter points, then after a quiet second quarter, took over stretches of the second half and showed the fire and passion that helped Denver win a championship in 2023.
Murray the best player to never make All-Star Game
All told, Jamal put in his own version of the “Flu Game”, playing a team-high 42 minutes, despite his sickness, and finishing with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. He shot a solid 9/19 from the floor, 2/6 on threes, 5/6 from the line, and led the team with a +28 on/off rating.
We all knew the Nuggets would need Murray to have a chance in this game, and if he sat out, we’re likely looking at a different outcome. He couldn’t afford to use his sickness as an excuse, and he didn’t. He defied the odds, stepped up, and gave his team what they needed with their backs against the wall.
This was another game to add to a growing list of classics for the 28-year-old Murray, whose playoff resume is jaw-dropping. He has never truly put it all together during a regular season in Denver, but he’s one of the few players who consistently rises come playoff time and proves he’s one of the league’s brightest stars when the lights are the brightest.
His reputation and legacy speak for themselves, and his resume in elimination games specifically is staggering. There aren’t many players in the entire NBA with his type of accolades in these spots, and there are certainly none who have never even made an All-Star Game.
Sure, guys have had nice runs here and there, or gone off during a specific series, but this isn’t that. Anytime Jamal has been healthy for a playoff run, he has proven to be a bona fide star. He showed his chops in the bubble, bursting onto the stage with a show for the ages.
He followed it up with an incredible title run in 2023. He had multiple game-winners last season to eliminate the Lakers. And now this year, he is putting together a nice run as the shorthanded Nuggets try to defy the odds.
They’ll have another mountain to climb on Sunday as they try to win Game 7 on the road in OKC. For Denver to have a chance, they’ll need another vintage Murray performance in a hostile environment. That may sound like a daunting task, but at this point, you’d be crazy to bet against it.