DENVER (AP) – The strained hamstring of Jamal Murray is healing. And his two sprained ankles are too. He’s starting to resemble a postseason Murray who scores goals with ease.
After going 4 for 4 from 3-point range, the Denver guard finished with 22 points to help the Nuggets defeat the struggling Dallas Mavericks 130-104 on Monday night.
“I’m doing quite well. After missing 15 games and being in and out of the lineup for the reigning NBA champs, Murray said, “I can’t complain” about his rhythm. “I think we´re still just trying to, not find our rhythm, but all be on the court healthy at one time.”
In a game where the Nuggets starters rested in the fourth quarter, Aaron Gordon tied a season high with 21 points, while Nikola Jokic chipped in with eight points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The Mavericks reserves were outscored 62–34 by the Denver bench. Four Nuggets players scored in double figures, with Reggie Jackson topping the list with 18.
“I thought our bench was really good tonight,” Michael Malone, the coach of the Nuggets, stated. “That group played the right way, building good habits.”
Recovering from a Saturday home loss to Oklahoma City, the Nuggets lead 77-70 with 6:48 left in the third quarter and broke away with a 21-10 run to end the quarter.
Against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27), Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) drives to the hoop during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in Denver. (Photo by Jack Dempsey/AP)
Luka Doncic, who finished with 38 points and 11 rebounds despite feeling under the weather, remarked, “They were playing great.” “But each member of their team performed admirably. Simply enough, they were sharing the ball. They had plenty of opportunities to score. They performed admirably in the match.”
Denver’s approach to the Mavericks was straightforward: keep up the pressure. The Nuggets had a 32–11 lead in points during fast breaks.
“Especially at home, at altitude, we just felt like we could get out and run,” Murray, who averaged 26.1 points per game during the previous postseason, said. “We did a good job of trying to keep them off-balance.”
Doncic kept Dallas within striking distance in the second quarter with 22 points. Plus, he grabbed 11 rebounds. Kyrie Irving (heel), Josh Green (elbow), Maxi Kleber (toe), and Dereck Lively II (ankle) were not available for the Mavericks.
“It’s not a great recipe to win when we can’t score and we can’t get stops,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd stated. “We have to be better.”
Tim Hardaway Jr. passed his father, Tim Hardaway Sr., for 44th place on the league’s all-time 3-pointers list with two 3-pointers.
After missing two games due to concussion protocol, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope returned to the lineup and finished with nine points. In the second half, Doncic shot 3 of 8 and needed his assistance to cool down. In the first half, Doncic was 10 of 16 overall.
It was the first time Jokic and Markieff Morris had been on the floor together since their altercation on November 8, 2021. Morris, who was then playing for the Miami Heat, elbowed Jokic in the middle at half court during that game. Morris was forced to the ground by Jokic’s forceful shove from behind with his upper arm and shoulder in retaliation. Morris suffered whiplash and ended up missing four months. Jokic was suspended for one game.
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