Denver Nuggets Photo
Denver coach Michael Malone felt that former Kentucky star Jamal Murray blamed himself for the Nuggets’ Game Two loss to Miami in the NBA Finals.
“It wasn’t just him. It was me and every one of our players. It was collective,” the coach said. “But that’s what champions do. That’s what warriors do. They battled back. I felt his presence all day long.
“Forget the stats for a second. I felt Jamal’s presence, his energy, and he was here in the moment, and for him and Nikola to do what they did tonight in a game that we needed to take, regain home-court advantage of the series was special to watch.”
Murray was sensational in Denver’s 109-94 win at Miami Wednesday with 34 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Here’s part of what he said after the win gave Denver a 2-1 lead.
He has scored more than 30 points in eight of the Nuggets’ 18 games this postseason. He scored 37 points twice in four games against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. He has had 10 assists in each game of the finals.
Q. Coach Malone was in here saying that he thought you took the blame for Game 2 or at least put it on yourself. How did it motivate you and Nikola tonight?
JAMAL MURRAY: The last shot felt good. It was more like throughout the game. I felt like I didn’t bring the intensity that the moment called for. Even though I didn’t play terrible, I felt like I could have done a lot more. Most people that have watched the Nuggets play, when I have a game like that, I’m most likely going to bounce back. Just one of those days. I think not just me but everybody bounced back. Everybody brought the energy. K only took four shots but he was into everybody. Michael was grabbing boards, even though he wasn’t making shots. AG, same thing, 10 boards, didn’t shoot well. Actually shot 50 percent. My bad. Yeah, just everybody was just coming into the game and wanting to bring the intensity that we’re used to playing with. I thought CB was great, and I thought Jeff was great, and everybody was ready to play tonight.
Q. Many are calling this game obviously you and Jokic’s best game as a duo. Over the last seven years, how has your relationship grown, both on and off the court? How have you supported each other through everything both of you guys have been through?
JAMAL MURRAY: I’d say it’s a trust and a feel, that’s the best way for me to put it. It’s not really X’s and O’s. It’s just reading the game and trusting that the other is going to make the right play. If he throws it to me, he knows and expects what to see from me, and he knows the mood I’m in, the intensity I’m playing with, whether it’s low or high, time and score, and vice versa. I know when he’s overpassing, I know when he’s looking to score, I know when he’s the best player on the floor, I know when he’s taking a second to get into the game. I think it’s just a feel and a trust that we’re going to figure it out, and it’s a lot of unselfishness, like I keep bringing that up. It’s free flowing. If something is there, we go. If it’s not, we don’t force it. He makes tough shots look easy, and he’s been doing it for a very long time. I think the consistency doesn’t get talked about enough.
Q. With about seven minutes to go in the second quarter you caught a pass from Jeff Green and hit a step-back three over Bam Adebayo. How big was that shot?
JAMAL MURRAY: In the first half?
Q. Yeah, in the second quarter.
JAMAL MURRAY: As the shot clock was going down and I just got to my spot and just sunk it down, just a drill shot that I practiced basically my whole life.
Q. Malone said you put a lot of pressure on yourself after Game 2. How do you manage pressure? What do those hours look like, and how do you try to compartmentalize and not let that pressure dog you?
JAMAL MURRAY: You know, if people ask, it’s a big stage, do you get nervous and stuff? You’re supposed to be. That’s what makes you care. That’s what makes you alive. That’s what makes you enjoy these moments. It’s good to feel that. I just kind of get into zone, meditate a little bit, lock back in, knowing this is what I do, this is what I’ve been doing for my whole life, this is what I’ve wanted to do I my whole life. This is the stage I’ve been working personally to get to my whole life. All the butterflies, that’s supposed to happen. That shows that you care and that shows that you’re excited.
Q. That conversation yesterday where he threw his arm around you, what did that mean to you to have that never-ending support from him?
JAMAL MURRAY: Not just me but he’s always checking on guys, seeing their mood and tone, and I just think he does a great job, especially at this stage, of communicating what he’s thinking as well, not just picking your brain. But he has, like I said, we’ve been playing together for seven years now, and he’s got a lot of trust in me and my capability and most of all the energy and intensity that I bring. He’s excited for that. He knew it wasn’t my best in Game 2, and he looked forward for me to get it back in Game 3.
Q. When you’re scanning the box score and you see 32, 21, 10 on Joker’s line, what goes through your mind?
JAMAL MURRAY: I think it speaks for itself. It speaks for itself, bro. Like I said, how many times does he have to do that for you guys to believe in his game or our game or whatever? Like he’s doing it, making it look so easy, good shooting, low turnovers, two blocked shots, got great hands, great communication in the pick-and-rolls, and IQ and all that. Like I say, we’re running out of things to say. He makes the game look easy, and like I said, the consistency that he’s doing that with, not just the first time in the Finals, he’s done that before. It’s fun to play with, fun to watch and be a part of.
