Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had the third-highest scoring performance in NBA playoff history Monday, dropping 57 points against the Nuggets. Luckily for Denver, Jamal Murray and his 36 points — including 10 in overtime — led the Nuggets to a 135-125 win in their series opener. With Murray’s big game, he just landed just on the Nuggets’ top 10 in most points in an NBA playoff game.
In light of these big performances, here’s a look at the top individual scoring games in the Nuggets’ NBA playoff history (updated May 8, 2023):
1. Nikola Jokic, 53 points vs. Suns, May 7, 2023
The two-time NBA MVP lifted his team on his shoulders in the highest-scoring playoff performance in franchise history. Despite his scoring mark, Denver lost 129-124 to the Suns on the road in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. What was more memorable was his minor kerfuffle with Suns owner Mat Ishbia in the second quarter.
2T. Jamal Murray, 50 points vs. Jazz, Aug. 23, 2020
With the Nuggets down 2-1 in the first-round series, Murray stepped up his game and became the first Denver player to hit 50 in a playoff performance. He shot 18 of 31 from the field (9 of 15 from 3-point land) and led the Nuggets with 11 rebounds and seven assists. However, Denver lost 129-127 to Utah behind Donovan Mitchell’s 51 points. The Jazz would take a 3-1 series lead.
2T. Jamal Murray, 50 points vs. Jazz, Aug. 30, 2020
Two games after hitting 50, Murray did it again. Shooting 70.8% from the field on 17 of 24 shooting, including 9 of 12 from beyond the arc, the 23-year-old guard led Denver to a 119-107 win over Utah to tie the series at 3-all in Game 6. From Game 4-6, Murray averaged an astonishing 47.3 points.
4T. Nikola Jokic, 43 points vs. Spurs, April 25, 2019
You don’t have to go too far back to see who’s at No. 1. Big Honey poured in, what was at the time, a career high 43 points at San Antonio in a 120-103 loss to the Spurs in Game 6 of the first round. Jokic, who shot 63% from the field, also led the Nuggets with 12 rebounds and nine assists.
4T. Nikola Jokic, 43 points vs. Timberwolves, April 23, 2023
With the rest of the Nuggets shooting just 39.1% from the field, Jokic lifted the team on his shoulders and nearly carried them to complete a sweep of Minnesota in the first round. However, they fell just short, losing 114-108 in overtime of Game 4. He shot 15 of 26 from the field (including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc) and added 11 rebounds and six assists in the losing effort.
6T. Alex English, 42 points vs. Suns, April 24, 1983
Denver’s all-time leading scorer shot 16 of 27 from the field to lead his team to a 117-112 overtime win over the Suns in Phoenix to win the best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs. English also added four assists and three blocks in 48 minutes of work.
6T. Alex English, 42 points vs. Rockets, May 8, 1986
English tied his franchise playoff mark with Denver on the brink of elimination in Game 6 against Houston. Despite his strong effort, the Nuggets fell, 126-122, in double overtime at McNichols Arena.
6T. Carmelo Anthony, 42 points vs. Jazz, April 17, 2010
The last time the Nuggets and the Jazz met in playoffs, Paul Millsap was in a Utah jersey and the Nuggets were led by Chauncey Billups and Anthony. In Game 1 of the first-round series, Anthony shot 72% from the field (18 of 25) and added four rebounds and five assists, leading Denver to a 126-113 win at Pepsi Center. This was the highest scoring NBA playoff game for a Nuggets player in his home arena. Fun fact: This was also the day Ubaldo Jimenez pitched a no-hitter for the Rockies, the first in team history.
6T. Jamal Murray, 42 points vs. Jazz, Aug. 25, 2020
After lighting up Utah for 50 points in Game 4, Murray brought on another strong performance in Game 5, helping Denver stave off elimination in a 117-107 win. Murray shot 17 of 26 from the field — 4 of 8 from 3-point land — and added eight rebounds and eight assists to force Game 6.
10. Carmelo Anthony, 41 points vs. Mavericks, May 11, 2009
In a shootout in Game 5 in Dallas, Melo shot 15 of 29 — including 2 of 5 from beyond the arc — for Denver. Unfortunately, Dirk Nowitzki poured in 44 to lift the Mavericks to a 119-117 win and force Game 6 in the second-round series.
11T. David Thompson, 40 points vs. Trail Blazers, April 24, 1977
In Denver’s first year in the NBA, the star guard shot 55% from the field (16 of 29) and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the charity stripe. However, the Nuggets lost, 110-106, at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore.
11T. Calvin Natt, 40 points vs. Trail Blazers, April 18, 1986
Natt was one of three Denver players to score at least 20 points against Portland. He shot 71.4% from the field (15 of 21) and pulled down 10 rebounds in the 133-126 victory at McNichols Arena to open the first-round series.
11T. Jamal Murray, 40 points vs. Clippers, Sept. 15, 2020
In Game 7 against Los Angeles, Murray reached the 40-point mark for the fourth time during the 2020 playoffs. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 58% from the field (15 of 26), including 6 of 13 (46%) from beyond the arc. His effort, along with Nikola Jokic’s monster triple-double (16 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists), led Denver to an emphatic 104-89 win and its second consecutive playoff series win after falling behind 1-3. It punched a ticket to the team’s first Western Conference Finals since 2009.
11T. Jamal Murray, 40 points vs. Timberwolves, April 19, 2023
After missing the entire 2021-22 season, Murray looked as if he returned to his 2020 playoff form in Game 2 of Denver’s first-round series against Minnesota. The 26-year-old shot 13 of 22 from the field (including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc) and added three rebounds and five assists as .
Source: basketball-reference.com
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