Nuggets’ Jamal Murray explodes for 40 points in just second playoff game since ACL tear

By | April 20, 2023
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At long last, playoff Jamal Murray is back.

In just his second postseason appearance in almost three years, Murray announced his return on basketball’s biggest stage with an electric 40-point performance on Wednesday night against the Timberwolves. It helped guide the Nuggets to a clutch win and a 2-0 series lead heading to Minnesota. 

It has been a long road back for the Canadian, who finally returned to the court at the start of this season after missing 18 months with an ACL injury. He missed the entirety of Denver’s playoff runs in 2021 and 2022, watching from the sidelines while his teammates played for the ultimate prize. 

“I knew I was going to have my adrenaline going in the first couple playoff games,” he said after the win in Game 2. “The energy here is undeniable. I kind of planned for it, but it was nice to settle down and just play my game.”

Now, after a long battle just to make it back on the court, he is picking up right where he left off in the NBA playoffs. 

Shades of ‘Bubble Murray’

Before this week, the last time we saw Murray take the court in the postseason was all the way back in the Fall of 2020. While most of the world was still trapped inside during the dog days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Murray was playing the best basketball of his career in “the bubble.”

As a 23-year-old, he stole the show in the Nuggets’ 2020 first-round series against the Jazz. He dropped 50 points, 42 points and 50 points respectively in Games 4, 5 and 6 to help lead Denver to victory in seven games. He then went on to score 40 points in Game 7 against the Clippers to send his team to the Western Conference Finals.

Their run came to an end against the Lakers, but it turned Murray into an instant star. His four career playoff games with 40 or more points put him in elite company. 

Are the Nuggets serious championship contenders?

Despite earning the top seed in the West heading into this year’s playoffs, the Nuggets seemed to fly under the radar. Denver isn’t a flashy team, and it’s safe to say it has been overshadowed by the other star-studded rosters in the conference including the Suns, Clippers, Lakers, and even the Grizzlies.

But Wednesday night was proof that this team is a legit championship contender. Nikola Jokic has had another MVP-caliber season, Murray is once again flashing his explosive potential and even role players like Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon continue to deliver when it matters most. 

MORE: Full schedule, scores, results for Nuggets vs. Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs

They endured a bit of a scare in Game 2, with the Timberwolves rallying from a 21-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets dug deep and got the win. They have all the pieces to go toe-to-toe with any team in the league right now, especially if Murray keeps lighting it up like we know he can.

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