The All-Star point guard took over the game for Denver.
The season of Jamal Murray just keeps on going.
The Denver Nuggets' star point guard has finally been receiving the recognition he deserves from the NBA on a national scale this season with his first career All-Star selection and it's easy to see why he warrants so much attention.
He's averaging a career-high 25 points per game this season and a career-highs across the board with 25 points, 4.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists while powering the Nuggets through a season that's been devastated by injuries.
A Huge Performance
Wednesday night was another sign of the dominance that Murray has been showing off this season. Murray scored 52 points in a 142-135 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday while shooting an insanely efficient 19-28 from the field and 9-14 from three point range.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesThe three ball is what stands out the most, but Murray was dominating across the court. He was raining down shots from the perimeter, putting up shots from midrange and cutting inside to finish at the rim.
It didn't matter how contested a shot was opr how well he was being defended. Murray simply couldn't be stopped and all Nuggets head coach David Adelman could do was sit back and marvel at his point guard.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) guards in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images"Jamal [Murray]’s shot-making was insane, so many tough shots off the bounce," Adelman said to the media. "We talked about his progression over the years of doing that, both hands. And then the ability to finish in the paint... It’s just so efficient in every way - 53 on 28 shots is such a great number."
Denver's Sharpshooter
His efficiency on Wednesday isn't a surprise when you consider that Murray has been having an absurd shooting year. He's shooting 47.8% from the field and 42.% from three. It seems like he hasn't been able to miss a shot at times and the way he took over Wednesday's game is a great example of that.
Murray also has the benefit of Nikola Jokic to free up lanes and feed him passes to create great looks. The All-Star duo compliment each other perfectly and their may not be a better duo in the NBA.
Jokic dominates so much attention from defenses that even though it's more than known how talented Murray is, he's still mostly freed up to do what he wants on the court and when that freedom pairs with a hot hand, 52 points all of a sudden show up on the scoreboard.