The Nuggets finally got a win without Nikola Jokic on Tuesday night, defeating the Grizzlies in Memphis122-110. This came in the wake of two ugly-looking losses where the team looked largely incompetent without the league’s MVP.
Denver’s offense looked completely inept in the first two games without Jokic, but they looked like a completely different team on Tuesday night despite trotting out the same roster. A lot of the turnaround can be attributed to the play of Jamal Murray.
Murray’s play has been beyond concerning to start the season. He ended last season on a down note with his playoff performance, struggled with injuries, had a brutal showing in the Olympics, then came back to to training camp and signed a four-year max contract extension.
But after signing, he looked like a shell of himself to start the regular season, struggling to make an impact on either end. He has looked a step slow and his shot has been off. When the Nuggets have needed him to step up, he hasn’t been able to. This was on full display in the two games without Jokic.
Murray was unable to raise his game in the absence of the Joker; the team needed him to take over and lead the offense and he proved incapable. In the previous two losses, Murray had just 29 combined points on 12/31 shooting and 3/14 from three-point range. With those numbers, it’s no wonder the Nuggets lost back-to-back games and failed to crack 95 points.
Jamal Murray finally plays like a star
Given all that, it was a sight for sore eyes on Tuesday night when Murray came out firing and looked like his old self as he led the Nuggets to a victory. Murray put up 27 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks on 10/20 shooting and 5/10 from three.
It was a vintage Murray performance from start to finish as he confidently led the offense, taking what the defense gave him, creating space for himself and others, and knocking down jump shots. This was vintage Jamal Murray; the version that Nuggets fans have come to love; the version that helped win the 2023 title; and the version that Denver locked into a four-year max extension
This may have just been one night, but it was a message that this version of Jamal Murray still exists. Despite the slow start and the bad games, Murray isn’t just completely washed. That great player is still in there and now we know the potential still exists. This was a great and much-needed sign; now we just need to see it consistently.