The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 behind a stat line from Nikola Jokic of 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jamal Murray put up a stat line of 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in the opening game of the 2025-26 playoffs. It's the eighth time the duo has gone for 25-5-5 or more in the same game. And that equals Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen from the 1990's Bulls for most such games.
The incredible duo combination truly displays the greatness Nuggets fans have been lucky enough to witness between Jokic and Murray. Even more incredibly, they've done it in only 80 playoff games, compared to 168 for Jordan and Pippen. There's a good chance they could pass the all-time great combo in their current series against the Timberwolves.
Jokic and Murray are playing their best basketball together
Jokic and Murray have been together for 10 years, and in that decade, they've aged like a fine wine, getting better the longer they've been playing together.
Murray is coming off his first All-Star appearance, and he finished the season with career highs of 25.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.4 rebounds. He also shot a career best 43.5% from three and 48.3% from the floor. And Murray just went 16-16 from the free-throw line in the Nuggets' Game 1 win. He's been remarkably consistent for the Nuggets this year.
Joker just became the first player to lead the NBA in assists and rebounds in the same season. He finished with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and a career best 10.7 assists per game. Not bad for a three-time MVP who isn't the odds-on favorite to win the award this year.
One more ring together changes the conversation of where they rank
Two championship rings instead of one would go a long way to putting the Jokic and Murray duo into the upper echelons of great duos. Statistically, they're there. They're every bit, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. But with only one championship, they can crack that all-time duo table yet.
Two rings change the equation. It's the same as it is for Jokic and his legacy. You don't back into two rings. That's sustained dominance. It's not what Larry Bird and Kevin McHale have, or Magic and Kareem, but it's a start for a duo who're just getting into their prime together.
Yeah, sure, they may be past their "prime" years, but they aren't playing like it. They've aged like a fine win and there's no reason to think they won't keep it up. They won't pass the Bulls in titles, but they've got MJ and Pippen statistically in one way in the playoffs.
Add us as a preferred source on Google