Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray continues to burn the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Western Conference Finals series.
In timely backdoor cuts, to high-bending jumpers and deep triple shooters, Murray’s shooting lifted the Nuggets and choked LeBron James.
Starting with a 23-point fourth quarter of Game 2 and moving it to 30 points in the first half of Game 3, Murray shot the Lakers for the most playoff points over a three-quarter period since 1998.
Jamal Murray points at Mike Brain and calls “bang” after hitting all three 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NkwgqB1qsK
– The NBA May 19, 2023
With Saturday’s 119-108 victory over the Lakers, the Nuggets are closing in on their first trip to the NBA Finals…
That’s 37 points for Jamal Murray! 👏
The Nuggets lead 3-0 in the series and are separated from the NBA Finals by just one win.
🎥: espn
pic.twitter.com/qEyJ0Bjpop– TSN (TSN_Sports) May 21, 2023
Thanks, in large part, for Murray’s overall underrated game…
🏀 Final result 🏀
Jamal Murray reappears as @employee Secure a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals!
Nikola Jokic: 24 points, 8 asts, 6 reps
Anthony Davis: 28 points, 18 REB points, 2 BLK
LeBron James: 23 points, 12 assists, 7 reboundsGame Four: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN pic.twitter.com/zZanOraWSq
– The NBA May 21, 2023
Joining an exclusive club, Murray scored 30 first-half points in a playoff…
Jamal Murray joins Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker and Allen Iverson as the only players in the last 25 years to have three more than 30 points in the playoffs.
🎥: @employee
pic.twitter.com/zjFNZukEZC– TSN (TSN_Sports) May 21, 2023
Murray seeks league-wide recognition…
Jamal Murray wants some respect on his name 😤
(via @employee | andscape) pic.twitter.com/BgjHemQu9v
– NBA on ESPN (ESPNNBA) May 19, 2023
Some counted Murray out of the Nuggets’ long-term plans after suffering an injury in 2021, but not coach Michael Malone…
“Not only will you come back, you’ll be even better.”
Denver coach Michael Malone on what he told Jamal Murray after his injury in 2021 🔊#NBAConferenceFinals Presented by GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/EqOlQvBVp4
– The NBA May 21, 2023
Now, Malone can’t stop talking about Murray…
Michael Malone loves Jamal Murray.
(That’s half of the monologue, but I had to pick it up.) pic.twitter.com/j0VKcOa6Wa
– Ryan Blackburn (NBA Blackburn) May 21, 2023
And talking…
“What he’s doing in these playoffs is just a reminder of a guy…keep finding ways to improve…and really show up on the biggest stage in the world.”
Nuggets HC Michael Malone has high praises for Jamal Murray 💯 pic.twitter.com/7cRG6xByUM
– NBA TV (NBATV) May 21, 2023
And who can blame the coach? After all, Murray and teammate Nikola Jokic are making history in the NBA…
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are the two biggest playoff rookies in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/sHtfd3adTA
Harrison Wind May 16, 2023
Even Jokic develops a considerate attitude…
Nikola Jokic’s thought process in the first half:
“Get him *the ball.”
*He is Jamal Murray pic.twitter.com/TPnE5JUbUZ
– Ryan Blackburn (NBA Blackburn) May 21, 2023
Saturday’s win was described by some NBA insiders as the largest in Nuggets series history…
The sequence that pretty much broke the Lakers back in what is arguably the biggest # nuggets Winning history of the franchise:
Nikola Jokic for 3 (after LeBron just used up one)
Jamal Murray with a hard shot through 3 Los Angeles defenders#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/t77BxH8xpU
– Joel Rush (JoelRushNBA) May 21, 2023
Playing to earn the respect he feels he deserves, Murray contemplates another win: “Five more…five more…”
“Five more.”
– Jamal Murray, after the Nuggets’ 3-0 win over the Lakers.
They are now one win away from their first appearance in the NBA Finals 🏆
(via @Sports Center)pic.twitter.com/enHc3kx8zZ
– ClutchPoints (ClutchPointsApp) May 21, 2023