Nuggets-Pacers Instant Reactions: Jamal Murray Sets a New Season-High With 52 Points

The Denver Nuggets, losers of four straight at home, took the show back on the road for a clash with the decimated Indiana Pacers.

Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić both played despite a right ankle sprain and left wrist sprain, respectively. The ankle did not seem to bother Murray, who set a new season high with 52 points.

It was a showdown between the best and second-worst offenses in the league. As expected, the Nuggets emerged victorious. It was Denver’s eighth straight win on the road.

Final score: 135-120.

Murray plays through pain, sets new career high

Despite suffering a right ankle sprain and missing the conclusion of the loss to Dallas, Murray played in Indiana, where he dropped 10 points in the first quarter. The Nuggets got off to a disjointed start offensively, struggling to find a rhythm early. But Murray had the juice, and he carried the burden before everyone else settled in. The Nuggets offense took off from there.

Murray picked up where he left off in the second quarter, catching fire with his jumper. He got some mid-range buckets out of the mud, in classic Murray fashion, and his 3-ball was working too. Murray shot 9-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-6 from deep in the first half.

One half wasn’t enough for Murray, who immediately knocked down his sixth three of the game to open the third quarter. He followed it up with a signature turnaround jumper. At one point in the third, Murray had scored 14 straight for the Nuggets. He was feeling it in Indiana.

It looked, briefly, like the second unit might be able to close the door without Murray or Nikola Jokić. But as the lead slipped to 14, they both checked back in. Murray slammed it shut with another flurry. He even busted out his blue arrow celebration for the first time in years.

When the dust settled, he’d posted a season-high 52 points — just 3 away from tying his career high. He shot 10-of-11 from deep.

Different rotation for Jokić

For whatever reason, Jokić checked out with 4:20 remaining in the first half. It’s unclear whether he went back to the locker room to get his wrist taped, to have something else checked out, or simply to use the restroom. But that meant an early introduction for Jonas Valanciunas.

The second unit immediately engineered a 12-0 run, but as they’re wont to do, they took their foot off the pedal, and the Pacers clawed back into contention.

Denver’s offense shines

The Nuggets entered the contest with the league’s highest offensive rating. After a clumsy start to the game, they found their footing, and the offense never looked back. Murray’s big first half was the exclamation point on a thermonuclear run from Denver. They scored 72 points before halftime.

But the Nuggets score at will across four quarters. The biggest problem lies on the other side of the ball, where their defensive rating has been climbing since the Aaron Gordon injury. The defense showed up through three quarters, but the Nuggets let their foot off the gas in the fourth, and the Pacers made things interesting.

Thankfully, the Nuggets were on fire. Powered by Murray’s 52 points, they finished with 135 in victory.