MINNEAPOLIS — Jamal Murray did not need the scoreboard to explain the Nuggets’ stunning first-round exit Thursday night at Target Center.
Only a mirror was required.
“This is on me,” Murray said after scoring a humbling 12 points in the 110-98 loss to the Timberwolves. “You guys have seen me make shots. … I was able to get to my spots and I wasn’t able to convert. Thatap the frustrating part. They are playing good defense. All these guys are playing physical, chasing me around. And when I get the looks I need, they don’t go down.”
The Timberwolves, in general, and Jaden McDaniels, specifically, made life miserable for Murray in Game 6. In a series colored by injuries — Minnesota was missing its starting backcourt in Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, and the Nuggets were without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson — Denver could ill-afford its stars not to meet the moment.
After a slow first quarter, Nikola Jokic delivered, finishing with 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. He needed help. And Murray, who has forged his reputation on performing playoff magic, came up small in the season’s biggest game.
The wheels came off in the second quarter. Murray shot seven times. One went in. And while he had to work hard to create space, he got good looks. The clank sound off the front and back of the rim became the soundtrack to one of the most disappointing playoff losses in franchise history.
Overall, Murray missed 13 of 17 shots. And for the third time in six games, he failed to make a 3-pointer. The final numbers were staggering. Murray was 11-for-42 from behind the arc (26.1%) after posting a career-best 43.5% mark during the regular season, his first as an All-Star.
“Jamal just had a tough (game)” coach David Adelman said. “I feel for him. Everybody who is here and watched us, I am sure they are going to kill Jamal Murray. But, we have seen what he can do in these games and it just wasn’t his night.”
A 6.5-point favorite, the Nuggets wilted in the fourth. They had no answer for McDaniels, and Murray, the one player capable of matching his scoring, never got going.
Despite getting outrebounded and outhustled, the Nuggets remained tethered, clinging to hope late. Trailing 98-95 after McDaniels missed a layup, Murray popped open for a wide-open 3 with 4:12 remaining in the game.
Like so many jumpers in this series, his aim was off.
Murray averaged 23.6 points against Minnesota, but his field goal percentage spiraled to 35.6 %, 13 points lower than his regular-season standard.
“Thatap the frustrating part. Not showing up when my team needed me most,” Murray said. “I feel like if I had played a little better that we would have had that game. I take accountability for it. Rough night. They move on. We just need to be better. If I play a little better I feel like we win. But I didn’t.”
