Jamal Murray’s shooting confidence and energy contagious for Denver Nuggets

Published: Aug 17, 2020, 9:04 p.m. MDT

Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, left, shoots against Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) AP

Sarah Todd covers the NBA and Utah Jazz for the Deseret News.

SALT LAKE CITY — Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone called Monday’s fourth quarter and overtime periods “the Jamal Murray show.”

Scoreless through the majority of the fourth quarter, Murray heated up at exactly the right time for the Nuggets, scoring 20 points from the 3:13 mark in the final period of regulation until his final dagger three sailed through the net with 46 seconds left in overtime.

Murray finished the game with an incredibly efficient team-high 36 points, shooting 13-of-20 from the field, including going 6-of-9 from 3-point land.

“Every time he shot it, it was like you knew it was going in. He shot into a very big basket,” Malone said. “Jamal was incredible tonight.”

“Every time he shot it, it was like you knew it was going in. He shot into a very big basket. Jamal was incredible tonight.” — Denver coach Mike Malone

It wasn’t just Murray that was knocking down long shots for the Nuggets. The entire team shot above and beyond their normal averages finishing 22-of-41. That 53.7% shooting clinic is well above their regular season average of 35.8% from beyond the arc. In fact, of the 22 bubble teams the Nuggets were 18th in three-point attempts, hitting at just above 36% through the seeding games.

“This is the playoffs now,” Malone said. “The seeding games are over, this is for real. Every possession matters.”

They mattered more than ever against the Utah Jazz on Monday as Donovan Mitchell put 57 points. Despite Mitchell’s own 22 fourth quarter points, when the Nuggets needed a boost, were falling behind, or saw a chance to seize the game, they made shots. Leading that charge was Murray.

Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson, back, competes for a rebound with teammate Royce O'Neale, right, and Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris, left, during overtime in an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) looks on. The Nuggets won 135-125 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Juwan Morgan, left, scrambles for the ball with Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant (9) and Jamal Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant, left, drives against Utah Jazz's Georges Niang during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) passes the ball as teammate Rudy Gobert, center, and moves up court against Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) drives against Utah Jazz's Royce O'Neale during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Juwan Morgan, center, competes for a loose ball against Denver Nuggets' Paul Millsap, left, and Torrey Craig during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris (11) gathers with teammates during a timeout in the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant, left, goes up for a shot against Utah Jazz's Georges Niang (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) dribbles while trying to stay upright during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson (00) drives against Denver Nuggets' Mason Plumlee (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris (11) goes up for a shot against Utah Jazz's Emmanuel Mudiay during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) goes up for a shot against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder reacts after a referee's call giving him a technical foul during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz players gather near the hoop prior to an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Torrey Craig (3) tries to swat the ball away as Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert, left, competes for a rebound against Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. (1) looks on. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Players kneel in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement during the playing of the national anthem during the first half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game between the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert, right, misses a dunk against Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Nuggets' Jamal Murray (27) and Jazz's Donovan Mitchell (45) look on during the play. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson, left, drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles (2) shoots against Denver Nuggets' PJ Dozier (35) during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant, center, scores a basket against Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, left, and Donovan Mitchell during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert (27) scores a basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, right, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) and Jerami Grant defend during overtime in an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 135-125 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray, right, shoots against Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles, left, and Jordan Clarkson during overtime in an NBA basketball first round playoff game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 135-125 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool) | AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

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“Jamal’s energy is infectious and contagious,” Malone added. “When he got going and matched fire with fire. ... We need that from Jamal. He’s an energy bringer. He’s a guy that takes his game and his team to another level.”

The Jazz could feel that energy that Murray was creating. Mitchell said that in those crunch-time moments, every time Murray, Nikola Jokic, or Monte Morris would drain a three it was deflating and the Jazz let it affect them on the other end.

(3) Denver Nuggets

vs. (6) Utah Jazz

Game 1

Nuggets 135, Jazz 125 (OT)

Game 2

Jazz 124, Nuggets 105

Game 3

Jazz 124, Nuggets 87

Game 4

Jazz 129, Nuggets 127

Game 5

Nuggets 117, Jazz 107

Game 6

Nuggets 119, Jazz 107

Game 7

Nuggets 80, Jazz 78, Nuggets win series 4-3

It’s not likely that the Nuggets are going to continue to shoot upwards of 50% from three throughout the best-of-seven series, and the Jazz will surely be looking at film and making adjustments in hopes of closing off some of the open opportunities they had. But, many of the Nuggets shots came on tough step-backs and with the Jazz closing out and contesting. In that case, there’s not a lot more you can do.

“When guys are making step-back threes with a hand in their face it’s tough,” Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said. “You tip your hat.”

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