Murray reaffirms the Nuggets' belief in their championship-caliber potential.
The Denver Nuggets needed a win badly, and Jamal Murray made sure they got one.
Coming off consecutive losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nuggets entered Monday night's matchup against the Utah Jazz looking for a spark to stop the bleeding during a rough stretch that saw them go 4-8 in their last 12 games.
Murray delivered more than just a spark, pouring in 45 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the field, including 8-of-13 from three-point range and 10-of-11 from the free throw line to lead Denver to a tight 128-125 road win at Delta Center.
Murray's Words Hit Home
After the game, Murray was asked about the Nuggets finally closing out a game in the fourth quarter and he had a pointed answer about what this team is still capable of when they're locked in.
"We've done it and we believe in ourselves and it showed over the years what we can do, how clutch we can be, how dominant we can be late in the game and we're just trying to get back to that," Murray said.
It was a statement that carried a lot of weight, especially coming from a guy who has been through deep playoff runs and a championship with this group.
Murray is in the middle of the best season of his career, averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from beyond the arc.
His 45-point explosion against the Jazz also marked his seventh career game with 45 or more points, tying Carmelo Anthony for the third most in Nuggets history behind Nikola Jokic and Alex English.
A Rough Stretch Makes the Win Even Bigger
The win moved Denver to 38-24 on the season, good for fifth in the Western Conference, but the Nuggets know they haven't been playing up to their standard in recent weeks.
Denver had lost eight of their last 12 games before Monday night, and head coach David Adelman called out his team's effort in a loss to the Timberwolves just the day before, saying his team let offensive struggles turn into bad defense.
Murray acknowledged the tough stretch in his postgame comments as well, admitting the Nuggets have had a rough year and are just trying to take steps forward to get to where they need to be for the playoffs.
Even on Monday, it wasn't easy, as the Jazz made 22 lead changes and outscored the Nuggets in the fourth quarter, but Murray hit the go-ahead free throws with 31.8 seconds left to seal the deal.
Nikola Jokic still contributed with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, but it was a quieter night for the three-time MVP as Murray handled the bulk of the scoring load.
Getting Healthy Is the Next Step
As much as Monday's win was a step in the right direction, the Nuggets are still far from full strength and they know it.
Aaron Gordon has missed over 15 straight games with a right hamstring strain, though reports suggest he is targeting a return as early as Friday against the Knicks.
Peyton Watson is also sidelined with a right hamstring strain of his own and is expected to be re-examined this week, while Spencer Jones missed Monday's game due to a right shoulder sprain.
Cameron Johnson was ruled out against the Jazz with right ankle inflammation, adding another name to an already long injury list for a team that has dealt with health issues all season.
Murray said after the All-Star Game that getting healthy is the biggest thing for the Nuggets right now, noting that it's hard to judge or critique the team when nearly the entire starting five has been banged up at some point this year.
With Denver sitting in a tight Western Conference race behind the Thunder, Spurs, Timberwolves, and Rockets, the margin for error is thin and the Nuggets need their full roster back sooner rather than later.
For now, Murray is doing everything he can to keep the ship afloat, and Monday night's performance was exactly the type of game Denver needed to remind everyone, including themselves, what they are capable of when it matters most.