The Denver Nuggets are the most in-form team in the NBA, as they extended their winning streak to eight games following back-to-back victories over the Portland Trail Blazers.
MVP candidate Nikola Jokic led in the first game with 40 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals last Monday.
On Wednesday, it was Jamal Murray’s turn to go off, notching 55 points (new career-high) four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and seven three-pointers on 20-for-36 shooting from the field.
The Denver Nuggets head into the NBA All-Star break as the third seed in the Western Conference with a 36-19 record. They will re-open their 2024-25 campaign with a winnable match against the Charlotte Hornets on February 20.
Denver Nuggets’ Zeke Nnaji says grudge fueled Jamal Murray’s scoring outburst
Jamal Murray only had 17 points, two rebounds, eight assists, and two steals on 7-for-10 shooting from the field against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first game of the back-to-back set last Monday. The Canadian international was ejected from the game for trash-talking, so he had a chip on his shoulder last night in the second game.
“They (the Trail Blazers) shouldn’t have done that,” Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji said about the trash talk Jamal Murray faced in the first match, via The Associated Press. “When he’s mad, there’s no one in the world that can stop him.”
“It’s just all competitive spirit,” Murray added. “I came ready to play. Especially just being used to the playoffs and playing the same team over and over and they know your plays and things get chippy and you have to see them again. So, I think just that kind of factor made me ready to go. I was truly prepared today.”
