How the "trust" between Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. continues to grow

As soon as the ball left Michael Porter Jr.’s hands, Jamal Murray raised his arms in celebration. He already knew what was about to happen next.

It was the biggest play from the Nuggets’ thrilling 134-124 OT win Sunday over the Los Angeles Clippers. After Kawhi Leonard nearly stole the ball away from Murray with the Nuggets down 118-117 and under 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Murray regained possession and misfired on a half-court prayer as the shot clock expired. But Kentavious Caldwell-Pope corralled what Michael Malone and Caldwell-Pope agreed was the “biggest rebound of his career” and reset the ball to Murray.

With the Clippers’ defense scrambling, Murray found a wide-open Porter on the right wing.

Splash.

It was a cold-blooded, no-doubt triple from one of the best pure shooters in the NBA who’s also proven to be extremely clutch. This is hardly Porter Jr.’s first high-pressure triple. Who can forget his Game 5 3-pointer against the Clippers — the original “Yeah, Mike!” shot — with 1:11 on the clock and Denver up 102-100? Then there was the double-OT Game 5 corner 3 off the cross-court Nikola Jokic feed against Portland in the 2021 postseason. There have been others too. The kid has ice water in his veins.

That feed in OT against the Clippers also came from Murray, who also found Porter Jr. in transition on the left wing for a massive early-dagger 3-pointer in overtime Sunday.

Murray looked Porter Jr.’s way often against the Clippers. Five of Porter Jr.’s 12 baskets came off Murray assists. It’s a result of a growing chemistry between the two.

That chemistry first began to develop off the court last season when Porter Jr. missed most of the year due to another back surgery and Murray missed all of it rehabbing his torn ACL. Murray and Porter Jr. started to hang out more away from the team. They began going to church together. Now, there’s more belief in each other between the lines.

“We’ve developed a bond off the court that’s translated on the court,” Porter Jr. said Sunday. “We have more trust in each other.”

It’s a key development in the chemistry and hierarchy within the Nuggets’ starting lineup. Too often in past games, we’ve seen Porter Jr. get hot but then go quiet for stretches of important game action. He could have a “Porter Quarter” and go crazy in the first half, but then become invisible and see his touches evaporate. It’s mostly been a product of the Nuggets’ selfless nature and having so much offensive talent in their starting lineup and on their roster.

But now Porter Jr. feels that he and Murray’s relationship has grown to a level where Murray is making it a point to keep him involved. If a few possessions go by where Porter Jr. hasn’t gotten a touch, Porter Jr. says Murray will call a play for him. If Porter Jr. is hot and isn’t getting the ball, Murray now looks to swing it to him even when he and Jokic go into their two-man, pick-and-roll game.

“He makes sure that I don’t get iced out,” Porter Jr. said. “…He’s just very conscious of trying to get me going.”

That chemistry led to one of Porter Jr.’s best games of the season Sunday against the Clippers. Porter Jr. finished with 29 points on a clean 12-18 shooting (4-8 3FGs) and 11 rebounds. He didn’t just stand beyond the arc and let it fly from deep either. He got out in transition and got to the rim in the half-court too. As Porter Jr. has gotten healthier this season and begun to trust his body more, you’re seeing how versatile his offensive game can be even when playing against the NBA’s most feared defenses.

“How about some of the drives?” Malone asked postgame. “You’re seeing the complete player that he is. He’s not just a one-trick pony that can make 3s.”

Denver’s starting five was already unstoppable. How unguardable the Nuggets are is the biggest reason why Denver is in a prime position to capture its first NBA championship this season. You can’t stop Jokic in the playoffs. Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon have carved out roles as the perfect complimentary offensive pieces to the back-to-back MVP. Murray can be a killer in the postseason. We know that.

But Porter Jr. playing at this level turns the Nuggets’ offense up even higher. It makes the Nuggets so much tougher to stop. Even the NBA’s top defenses don’t stand a chance.