Jamal Murray once again took the dagger and drove it through the Lakers’ heart in game 5 after doing the same in game 2. With the 108-106 win on Monday night, the Nuggets sealed their playoff round 2 berth at the expense of the Los Angeles side.
After the game, Jamal Murray spoke about his winning feelings and said, “I’m speechless. It’s a dream come true. All these fans on your side. To get it done in this fashion, I don’t know what to say. I’m just happy for us.”
Before the game, Murray was ruled questionable due to a left calf strain but soldiered on through it. Speaking about his injury, the Canadian said, “I didn’t want to sit… I’m not gonna leave my brothers out there. I got emotional in the back, because I was like I’m not sitting.”
He thanked the team for ultimately letting him play despite Michael Malone’s pre-game reluctance to risk the guard. Murray proved it was a risk worth taking and continued his fine playoff form.
Jamal Murray’s Performance in Playoff Series
Jamal Murray proved to be an integral part of the Nuggets squad by maintaining stability in his performance throughout round one of the playoff series. In the opening game, he contributed a double-double with 22 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds in the 114-103 win. He got ample opportunities to shoot from the floor and finished with 9/24 shots and 4/9 threes.
Murray’s stat line dropped to 20-3-5 in Game 2, while shooting at 37.5% from the floor. After a 101-99 win, the Nuggets visited the Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena, where the Nuggets guard slightly improved his shooting skills and recorded 22 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists, missing another double-double by a hair in the 112-105 victory.
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The Blue Arrow scored 22 points in the next game while shooting at 39.1% from the floor, but the Nuggets lost by 108-119. In Game 5, the Lakers aimed to force a game 6, but ended up with a 106-108 loss thanks to Jamal Murray’s jump shot from 14 feet in the last couple of seconds that helped the Denver franchise to a narrow win and proceed to the second playoff round. Murray contributed 32-3-7 while shooting at 46.4% from the floor.
Jamal Murray and Co. will face the Timberwolves in the next round, yet another rematch from last year’s playoffs.
