Jamal Murray’s clutch performance, including a franchise-record 16-for-16 night at the free throw line, powered the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray’s 30 points led all scorers. The Nuggets now have a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.
Dominant From the Line
Murray said he thought he was fouled on every free throw. The Nuggets made 30 of their 33 free throws overall.
This was especially critical as they struggled from beyond the arc in the second half, shooting 1-for-17. Denver built a 15-point lead in the third quarter.
Series History
The Nuggets have taken a lead in eight of nine series openers since 2023. They went on to win six of the previous seven series in which they took Game 1.
Nuggets versus Timberwolves has been a close rivalry. The teams have played each other more times the past three years than any other two teams in the league.
Following Game 1, Denver holds a 15-14 record against Minnesota in the regular season and playoffs since 2023. Both sides expect this series to be a taut battle.
Murray’s Mindset
Murray said that he used to have so much energy in Game 1s. He recalled one year against the San Antonio Spurs, he got a steal on the first play and pulled up from the logo.
He has learned to relax and just play another game. He knows he will play most of the game and that the game will come to him.
This mindset has helped him to his finest, most consistent individual season, averaging a career high in points, rebounds, assists and 3-point field goal percentage. He ranked second in total clutch-time points this season and was the only player to average 25 points and seven assists and shoot 40 percent this season.
Supporting the Team
Murray has been a steadying force all season for the third-seeded Nuggets. He has been needed more than ever as Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon each missed large chunks of the season with injuries.
Murray carried the Nuggets on Saturday night. Gordon picked up three fouls in the first quarter and Jokic took just four shots in the first half.
Murray did so without having his 3-point stroke working.
The first game everybody’s got so much adrenaline. Everybody’s excited. Everybody’s a little bit nervous. Some butterflies, which is human.
That past has served as a fascinating prologue for this series.