Nuggets’ Jamal Murray scores 31 points in Game 1 win despite lingering ear infection: “We need that from our leader.”
Murray #Murray
Jamal Murray left his locker room stall, a jar of watermelon chunks in his hand, and let out a long, deep sigh.
Having already scored 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting in Tuesday’s Game 1 win over the Lakers, Murray had one more obligation to fulfill: his postgame media.
With a stuffy nose and a coarse voice, Murray said his current status was “manageable.”
“I got an ear infection on Saturday,” Murray said. “You know how ear infections are. They hurt a lot.”
Before erupting for those 31 points, second only to Nikola Jokic’s 34, Murray didn’t practice in the days leading up to Tuesday’s series opener. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Murray came to the team’s practice facility, watched film, studied personnel and then went home. They didn’t want him practicing. They wanted him resting.
“I sometimes marvel at the kid,” Malone said, lauding his toughness and explaining that as soon as the ball tipped, Murray blocked out whatever impediments the earache was causing.
“He showed up and performed like he always does,” Malone said.
Jokic, whose 34-point, 21-rebound, 14-assist triple-double helped the Nuggets avoid a second-half collapse, wasn’t convinced.
“Maybe he just faked it,” Jokic said. “He didn’t want to practice.”
Jokic, of course, was kidding. There was nothing silly about the way Murray dissected Los Angeles’ backcourt. Whether it was Dennis Schroder or Austin Reaves, Murray got to his spots and punished the Lakers’ weaker defenders. He worked inside and out, flashing a post game that might make bigger players blush.
Knowing that Los Angeles’ strength resided inside, Murray’s attacking ability was one of the keys to the series.
After Jokic came out aggressive — demanding the Lakers’ defensive attention — Murray took over. He scored 12 in the second quarter, often using Jokic as a screener before he could settle into his smooth open jumpers. He opened the third quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers before scoring eight in the final quarter, as the Lakers closed to within one possession multiple times.
A minute into the fourth, Murray heaved a jumper with LeBron James draped over him and the shot-clock winding down. When it fell, Murray backpedaled back on defense, pleased and proud of his fortuitous make.
“Yeah, let’s be honest, we hit a couple of shots tonight, I think Nikola’s (3), I think Jamal hit one at the end of the shot clock,” Malone said. “… But we had some shots that we needed obviously in a game like tonight.”
Late in the fourth quarter, Murray hunched over his knees, exhausted from his 37-minute effort.
As badly as he felt, Murray’s teammates appreciated the effort.
“I mean, I’m always telling him we’re going to need him,” said Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who shared the podium with Murray on Tuesday night. “I appreciate all the energy and effort that he’s giving us, knowing what he’s going through. It shows a lot of toughness. We need that from our leader.”
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
©2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.