LAS VEGAS — A quick pregame hug from his dad, Roger, and Jamal Murray was on his way to his breakout Summer League game.
The No. 7 pick was drafted by Denver for his shooting and scoring ability, and he bedded a game-high and personal summer-league-best 29 points in a 92-81 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night.
Murray brought the Cox Pavilion crowd to its feet midway through the fourth quarter with a series of crossover dribbles, and he knocked down back-to-back jumpers late to keep Denver within striking distance. He punctuated both pull-up shots with some trash talking to Miami defender Damion Lee.
Murray, who spent one season at Kentucky, said after the game that the woofing was directed at Lee, a Louisville product. The two schools are fierce basketball rivals.
With the loss, the Nuggets drop to 2-1 in advance of tournament play which begins on Wednesday.
