Grades: Jamal Murray lights Cleveland on fire

The Cleveland Cavaliers was once the poster organization for the Denver Nuggets’ tendency to play down to their opponents. The Sacramento Kings wear that crown now, and the Cavs look like the Nuggets preferred way to tune-up. Denver propelled themselves back into the right direction Friday behind a monster night from The Big Three, capped off by a historic performance from Jamal Murray. The Cavaliers hardly represent the stiffest competition the league has to offer. Still, the Nuggets reminded their base why they’ve been so successful and inspired so much hope in recent years — this team is loaded with talent. Premier talent.

Michael Porter Jr. went off in the first half, Nikola Jokić celebrated his birthday with a triple-double, and Murray set the NBA record for most points scored without taking a free throw.

Let’s go to the grades:

Jamal Murray – A+ 

We needed to see it again. The staunchest Murray defenders might deny it, but the empirical evidence provides the sweetest relief. We haven’t seen Murray dominate like that since the playoffs — since the bubble we hope will not come to define his career. We needed to see it again because we want to believe that what Murray accomplished in that run is replicable and that it comes from someplace very real, very deep inside him. He tapped into that place again in Cleveland Friday night, on the heels of a near-miraculous comeback effort in DC. These games hardly comprise ‘when it matters,’ but they undoubtedly reinforce the belief that Murray will find an extra gear when it’s needed. 

Murray finished with a regular-season career-high 50 points on 21/25 from the field. He knocked down eight of his ten attempts from deep and did not attempt a single free throw. He was flawless. His 20 points in the fourth quarter evoked an eruption of passion and fury on the court. Murray screamed, hollered, and thumped his chest in front of a limited audience. The few fans in attendance had the honor of playing subject to Murray’s wrath. He fed off their disbelief, off his energy, and left us all behind for that place. The place only the world’s finest scorers can access. The zone.

Murray doesn’t live in that place as some superstars do, but he knows where it is. He knows how to get there. Is Murray back? It’s a safer bet to expect inconsistency as he descends back to the physical plane. It’s fair to assume this won’t last. But if you believe in the Denver Nuggets making another run, it’s because you know what Jokić can do, and you think Murray can do it again when it counts. That position easier to hold this morning.

Nikola Jokić – A

Jokić celebrated his birthday with his dream game. He posted a triple-double: 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, while only taking eight shots, and of course, winning. He added four steals for good measure. One of the many beautiful aspects of Jokić’s approach to basketball, and the way he takes up space in an NBA ecosystem, is his willingness to slide out of the way. Jokić is marvelous, but even his peaks aren’t as electrifying as what Murray can do — what he just did.

Jokić quietly dominated and happily aided in Murray’s domination. He’s come a long way in recognizing his impact and the importance of stardom in this league. He’s learning when to be the aggressor. Still, if he had it his way, the Denver Nuggets would conquer all behind a faceless army. He’s happy to play second fiddle to any one of his teammates on any given night.

Micahel Porter Jr. – A-

Porter’s first half is almost an afterthought after Murray’s 20-point fourth quarter, but MPJ was a force of nature in the first 24 minutes. So few players can reach 20 points as quickly as he does, and it took him no time at all to get going in Cleveland. He scored 11 points in the first on 5/7 shooting. Only two of those seven shots were from deep. He knocked down two threes in the second on his way to 10 points on just four shots.

We’ve seen Porter succeed as a floor spacer and cutter alongside Jokić, but we haven’t seen him thrive alongside Jokić and Murray, at least not without it coming at the latter’s expense. All three shined in the opening two quarters. Both Porter and Murray took eleven shots before the half, knocking down eight and nine, respectively. Porter quieted down in the second half, although, with the way Murray was playing, there wasn’t much to do. “We just stayed out the way and let him do this thing,” Porter said after the game.

Will Barton – C

Barton was quiet for the most part. The stars were cooking, and everyone else just had to get out of the way. Unfortunately, he turned it over four times.

Monte Morris – C-

Morris has quieted down lately. It could be that shoulder strain, but it also coincides with the improved play from Campazzo, who has had the ball in his hands more. These two have their work cut out for them on the same roster.

Facundo Campazzo – B

Another solid outing from Campazzo who looks increasingly comfortable in his new skin.

RJ Hampton – C+

You know what these minutes look like by now. He played hard.

Isaiah Hartenstein – C+

Hartenstein played 11-plus minutes and committed only two fouls. Great success.

Game Notes:

– At the risk of getting carried away with a win over the Cavs, this game was perhaps the first one all season that inspired belief in the core. The Nuggets might win any given game behind a spectacular performance from one of their stars, but it will be hard to buy into any kind of postseason success without more games like these. We saw not only what all three of them can do, but perhaps a reflection of what they’d like to do alongside each other.

– Gary Harris was unavailable for this game after a brief return from injury.

– JaMychal Green left the game early with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

– Will Barton III returned to the starting lineup.

– Another DNP for Bol Bol.