OKLAHOMA CITY – Jamal Murray faked right, but went left. His turnaround jumper on target despite Dennis Schroder’s hand in his face.
Denver’s season sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder was all but finalized with six minutes remaining behind the biggest shot of a huge night for the Nuggets’ budding star.
Murray hit big shots. He played stingy defense. More importantly, he commanded the floor opposite of All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
He was the spark as Denver beat OKC, 115-105, Friday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena for a fourth victory this season over its division rival to move into first place in the Western Conference.
“This might have been Jamal’s best game, complete game in a Nuggets uniform,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I loved how he played tonight. Thatap the Jamal Murray we need every night moving forward.”
Murray scored a team-high 27 points, dished nine turnovers and did not commit a turnover. Backup point guard Monte Morris was just as effective, with four points, seven assists and just one turnover — though Denver contested it as a trip that led to an offensive foul late in the third.
“I’m not counting that,” Malone said.
One night after shooting 36.9 percent in a loss at Houston, the Nuggets shot 56.5 percent overall, including making 14 3-pointers and shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range.
Oklahoma City had little answer defensively. It got 27 points from Westbrook and 25 from George, but it wasn’t enough to out-shoot the Nuggets.
That was a reoccurring theme in the four games this season. Should the teams meet in the playoffs, itap a confidence boost for the Nuggets. But they aren’t looking at it like that.
“That doesn’t mean much,” veteran Mason Plumlee said. “It’ll be a whole new matchup.”
Added Malone: “I’m not thinking in my head OKC is an easy matchup because we swept them. I’m not that stupid.”
Friday, Denver had an answer for each Thunder (44-32) run.
The Nuggets (51-24) led by 11 in the second quarter, but the Thunder rallied to tie the game with 6:40 remaining in the third. Denver answered with a 12-2 run.
Naturally, it started with a spark from Murray.
After a Paul Millsap offensive rebound, Murray drilled a step-back 3-pointer while being tightly defended. Gary Harris followed with a basket and Torrey Craig added a 3-pointer.
Quickly, the lead was 82-70.
Later, as the Thunder started to appear capable of making another push, Murray hit his turnaround jumper near the free-throw line.
Then he made a reverse layup 30 seconds later. And to put the game out of reach, he buried a 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining. Millsap followed with a 3-pointer that put the Nuggets up 12 with 42.2 seconds remaining.
“I think it was just our intensity,” Murray said. “Defensively, I think we’re all pretty locked in. They went on runs and they made it a game, but I think our awareness, our mindfulness of what was going on out there and how we were going to beat them was on point.”
It was a sign of growth for a young team. The Nuggets could have easily struggled on the second night of a road back-to-back and sixth game in nine days.
“We responded well from the loss yesterday,” Millsap said. “Thatap all you can ask.”
Murray started it all. His growth has been tremendous.
His rookie season, he struggled to find his way. Last season, he finished strong as the starting point guard. Now, he’s becoming the Nuggets’ leader as the postseason quickly approaches.
“When I got here, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Jamal was the starting point guard,” Plumlee said. “He earned that. Now, he’s earning the leadership role on this team. Itap exciting to see.”
