Struggling all-game long, Jamal Murray knew that it only takes one shot to get his offensive groove going for the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
And it took also a single bucket for Murray to break the Los Angeles Lakers’ hearts.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone and the rest of the defending champs couldn't agree more.
“For those that have been following us [Nuggets] for a long time, that’s Jamal Murray right there. He can struggle, [but once] he sees one go in…. and he’s never going to shy away from the moment [or] the spotlight," Malone said about Murray in the post-game conference of Denver's dramatic Game 2 comeback win over the Nuggets.
JAMAL MURRAY HITS THE GAME-WINNER IN DENVER!! pic.twitter.com/kIZ7EIW2sV
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 23, 2024
Murray started out with a horrendous 3 of 16 shooting in the first three frames, but went 6-for-8 in the fourth quarter including the game-winning jumper.
He finished with 20 points.
“There is a playoff Jamal. The proof is in the stats, but what he does in the postseason is just incredible,” Malone stated.
Murray even revealed he didn’t even know that his game-winning shot went in, not until the whole crowd started roaring.
"I just saw the ball over the rim, I think AD was in my way... I just heard everybody scream. That's how I know it went in," Murray added.
The angles in Denver 📸🔥 pic.twitter.com/dqD94YpoFP
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 23, 2024
“That was just an incredible play,” Malone recalled of the Murray game-winner.
The champion guard reiterated that fighting through a slow start is nothing new to him, and credited his teammates for giving him the confidence to shoot despite struggling early.
“I’ve done it before and all the credit to my teammates… I’ve missed a couple [of shots] and I was like ‘I’m looking for you guys, just relocate,' just whatever the game plan but every single one of them told me to shoot it,” Murray told.
Malone also takes pride in the Nuggets’ mental toughness in a game when they needed to dig deep and found a way to come back from as much as 20 points.
"We're the reigning champs... we might get down 20 points but not going to roll over. That's not who we are... That's never been a part of Denver Nuggets basketball,” the champion coach said.
Game 3 of this Nuggets-Lakers showdown is on Friday (Philippine time) with the series shifting to Los Angeles.
