When Jamal Murray is feeling cocky enough to play to the crowd, it doesn’t matter how many bodies the Nuggets are missing.
Murray dropped a career-high 55 points, the third-highest scoring individual performance in franchise history, and the Nuggets went into the All-Star break on an eight-game win streak with a 132-121 victory over Portland on Wednesday night.
Murray showed up to his postgame news conference with the game ball at his side, signed by his teammates.
“I brought the ball up here because I couldn’t do it without them,” he said.
Down four rotation players, Denver (36-19) led by as many as 23 before Chauncey Billups’ Blazers pulled within single digits in the fourth quarter, while Murray was stuck on 49 points. But the 27-year-old guard eclipsed 50, his previous career-high, on a floater with 7:50 to go, and the Nuggets held off Portland’s advances.
Murray made 20 of 36 shots from the field and 7 of 15 from 3-point range. He added five assists and a pair of steals, not committing a turnover until the fourth. It was the 17th 50-point game in Nuggets history, including the regular season and playoffs. Murray is responsible for four of them.
After burying back-to-back 3s out of a double-drag screening action late in the first half, he backpedaled to the defensive end while gesturing with his right hand for an increase in volume. Ball Arena obliged, but only gradually, until Murray cupped his hand to his ear asking for more. Earlier in the game, he sank another three and shimmied into the huddle as Billups took a timeout.
“Tonight was his best game ever, from a numbers standpoint,” coach Michael Malone said.
All this two nights after Murray was ejected in the first of a two-game series with the Blazers. He and fellow Canadian Dalano Banton jawed back and forth on Monday.
“It’s just all competitive spirit,” Murray said. “I’ve got nothing against Banton. He’s from 40 minutes from where I grew up. But obviously I came ready to play.”
His finishing at the rim recently has been a polished circus act. His latest act was an over-the-head layup in transition. But his perimeter finishing hasn’t been shabby, either. He’s 40% from outside the arc since Dec. 1, a span including seven 30-point outings.
“Our season is two seasons. Before Dec. 8 and after Dec. 8,” Malone said. “… Since Dec. 8, just look at Jamal Murray’s stats. And you guys can write about it, because the stats are amazing since then.”
Nikola Jokic went into the break — for everybody except him — with his 25th triple-double of the season. He amassed 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
“There are really good players in this league,” Malone said. “There’s one great player in my eyes.”
Christian Braun also stayed in rhythm with another complete performance, going for 21 points, 10 boards, six assists, two steals and a block.
With forwards Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. out, Michael Malone started Zeke Nnaji at the four and used Dario Saric as a backup. Saric has primarily played center this season. The win on Wednesday marked his first minutes with Jokic.
After spending a month in fourth place in the West, the Nuggets have passed Houston and nearly caught up to Memphis. They have the same record going into the break that they had last season, which ended with a franchise record 57 wins.
“Last year, we were just fried from winning the championship, I think mentally, physically, emotionally,” Malone said pregame. “The short offseason, which I think is what you want in this business. … Different team. We’re leaning on a lot of guys that have not played a lot of playoff basketball. And at the moment, they’re all taking advantage of that opportunity, which has been fun to watch. But every year is a different team. … This is this year’s team, and we’re kind of charting our own course.”
Westbrook likely to return after break
Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook should be set to return from a left hamstring strain after the All-Star break, Michael Malone said Wednesday.
Westbrook, 36, missed Denver’s last seven games before the break.
“Everything’s pointing forward to him being able to use this break, use this stretch of games when he’s been out rehabbing, to come out of the break and be active and be available,” Malone said.
Westbrook is averaging 13 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 27.7 minutes per game. He suffered the injury two games after Malone chose to leave him in the starting lineup, replacing opening-day starter Christian Braun. When Westbrook signed with the Nuggets last offseason, he joined as their new sixth man and backup point guard.
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