Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Malone on Murray's rise: 'We have 2 superstars'

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 23 September 2020 00:32

A 20-point Denver Nuggets lead had dwindled to four with over two minutes left in the game when Nikola Jokic handed the ball off to Jamal Murray.

Murray backed Alex Caruso off the 3-point line only to spin and drill a step-back 3. On the next possession, Murray hit Paul Millsap for a dunk with a beautiful pass on two defenders. And then Murray sealed Tuesday's Game 3 of the Western Conference finals with a 29-foot rainbow shot as Denver held on for a 114-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Now I know every night what I'm getting from Jamal," Denver coach Michael Malone said. "Last year, we knew what we were getting from Nikola, but what kind of game would Jamal have. That's no longer the case.

"We have two superstars in Nikola and Jamal."

The Lakers have arguably two of the NBA's top five players in Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who combined to score 57 points on Tuesday. But it was Murray who raised his level in crunch time in Game 3, orchestrating an 8-0 run that came in the final 2:17 to hand the Lakers their first loss of the conference finals.

L.A. leads the series 2-1.

Murray nearly matched James, who had a triple-double with 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. The Nuggets' guard tallied 28 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds to help Denver rebound from losing Game 2 on a crushing buzzer-beating 3 by Davis.

"We had Game 2," Murray said of Sunday's 105-103 loss. "We played great in Game 2. We just had a couple breakdowns that really hurt us.

"We feel like we should be up 2-1 right now, to be honest. But we're going to move on to Game 4."

The Nuggets have overcome a 3-1 deficit in both the first and second round of these playoffs, against the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, respectively. But this was the first time the Nuggets had started a series down 0-2 in the past two postseasons.

Jerami Grant (26 points) and Monte Morris (14 points) helped the Nuggets build a 97-77 lead with 10:36 left on Tuesday.

"I had no doubt that we were going to show up tonight," Malone said. "The reason I didn't have any doubt is because we won six straight elimination games. Everybody always has us packing our bags and leaving, but we're not ready to go. For some reason, we love this bubble."

Murray, though, loves shooting in crunch time in the bubble. After the Lakers made a 22-6 run to cut the deficit to four, Murray answered with a 26-foot 3, the pass to Millsap and then the 29-foot dagger.

The guard now has eight clutch time 3-pointers this postseason, second most in a single postseason over the past 20 years behind only Stephen Curry's nine (2016), according to ESPN Stats and Information research.

"He is built for the big shots," said Jokic, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Game 3. "I really, truly believe that he's a superstar."

The Lakers might have the best one-two punch in the league. But Malone feels he has a superstar combo, as well, a duo looking to even this series in Game 4.

"This gives us that much more confidence going into this series," Malone said. "Letting them know that we're here, we're in this for the long haul."

Read 382 times

Soccer

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

EmailPrintUnited States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for pr...

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

EmailPrintLeicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal...

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season...

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

EmailPrintFormer G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose b...

Baseball

Opening Day takeaways: What we learned from a wild start to the 2024 MLB season

Opening Day takeaways: What we learned from a wild start to the 2024 MLB season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhat an MLB Opening Day!All 30 teams were scheduled to be in action...

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- That Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated