Jamal Murray's Clutch

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Lore & Background

Murray's reputation for clutch play is rooted in the 2020 NBA Bubble, where he led one of the most improbable runs in league history. Facing elimination down 3–1 to the Utah Jazz, Murray erupted for a career-high 50 points in Game 4, leading the Nuggets to a crucial win. Just days later, with Denver facing another potential series end, he scored 42 points to force a Game 6, where he added 50 points, shooting 9-of-12 from three-point range. This performance made history as the first time two opponents scored at least 50 points in the same playoff game, alongside Donovan Mitchell's 51. Murray then led the Nuggets to a Game 7 victory over Utah, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals, where he helped defeat the Los Angeles Clippers with 40 points and six three-pointers, sending the Nuggets to their first Western Conference Finals since 2009. These moments transformed him from a promising pick into the team's emotional anchor.

In Their Own Story

The regular season also provided evidence of Murray's ability to close out tight contests. On December 23, 2019, he knocked down a game-winning step-back jumper with just 2.5 seconds remaining in overtime against the Phoenix Suns to secure a 113–111 road victory. He repeated this feat on March 4, 2020, making an off-balance jumper with 4.5 seconds left to seal a 114–112 win over the Hornets while recording 18 points and six assists. His resilience was tested again in the 2023 championship run, where he became a key contributor to Denver's first NBA title, becoming the ninth Canadian to win an NBA championship. Even during his return from a torn ACL suffered on April 12, 2021, Murray showed immediate impact upon his October 19, 2022 comeback, scoring 12 points in his first game back after eighteen months.

Reader's Guide

To understand Murray's value in critical moments, one must look at the specific metrics and turning points recorded during his peak performances. In the 2020 Bubble alone, he averaged 36 points and 9 assists in Game 1 against Utah, scoring 20 of those in the fourth quarter and overtime to win 135–125. His ability to sustain high-volume scoring under pressure is unmatched; he recorded a career-high 48 points on November 5, 2018, against Boston, and later scored 46 points with nine three-pointers against Phoenix in December of that same year. His free-throw reliability also plays a role, as evidenced by his 90.5% percentage in the 2017–18 season, which ranked fifth in the league. Fans should note that his clutch gene is not limited to scoring; on February 6, 2019, he recorded 19 points and 11 assists in a loss to Brooklyn after missing six games with an ankle sprain, demonstrating his dual threat as both a scorer and playmaker when the game is on the line.

Did You Know?

• Murray scored 50 points against the Utah Jazz in Game 4 of the 2020 playoffs, the same game where Donovan Mitchell scored 51, marking the first time two opponents reached that mark in a single playoff game.
• In his return from an ACL tear on October 19, 2022, Murray played 26 minutes and scored 12 points in his first game back after eighteen months.
• Murray became the ninth Canadian to win an NBA title as a key contributor to the Denver Nuggets' 2023 championship run.
• During the 2019–20 season, Murray recorded a career-high 6 steals along with 10 points and 9 assists in a victory over the Houston Rockets.