Jamal Murray, Nuggets smother Bulls in fourth, hold on for second-straight win

 

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DENVER — Behind 24 points from Jamal Murray and 16 from Wilson Chandler, the Denver Nuggets escaped with a narrow win over the Chicago Bulls and completed their four-game homestand on a positive note.

Tonight’s game really began in the second quarter, which coincided the emergence of Murray. After trailing 31-19 after the first and allowing the Bulls to shoot a scalding 62 percent from the field the Nuggets needed to play catch up. Murray, in just six-and-a-half minutes proceeded to score 15 points in the quarter on 6-8 shooting and went 2-3 from beyond the three-point line while contributing two rebounds and two assists.

The Nuggets went on a 24-0 run in the second quarter behind the play of Murray and Chandler, who had 12 first-half points and Denver and Chicago went into halftime tied 60-60. Jameer Nelson added eight points, three rebounds, and three assists while Jokic contributed six points, three rebounds, and three assists in just ten minutes of court time.

Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade continued to carry the Bulls offense while Robin Lopez anchored the defense. Both teams traded buckets and with a minute left Butler hit a three to tie the game at 107. After Barton hit two free throws the Bulls had two chances to go for the win but an Isaiah Cannan three fell short.

The Nuggets win 109-107 behind six players scoring in double figures and strong performances from Murray, who had 24 points on 13 shots with six rebounds, and Jusuf Nurkic‘s double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds with two blocks. Butler led the Bulls with 35 points, eight rebounds, and five assists to go with two blocks. Wade had 22 points in the Bulls loss.

WHERE/WHEN

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado | November 22, 2016 | Game No. 14

NUGGETS STAR OF THE GAME

Murray led the Nuggets in scoring and was easily Denver’s best offensive player on the floor. Scoring 24 points on 9-13 shooting while adding six rebounds and two assists with no turnovers earns Murray the title of Nuggets’ start of the game.

Head coach Michael Malone had kind words for the rookie after the game:

“I think that the word is getting out. Jamal Murray is a heck of a player and every game he seems to improve. He seems to showcase a little more of his ability and his talents and teams are going to start game planning for him at some point because when you shoot the ball as well as he does but he can also get to the basket and finish, he is a tough cover. Very happy for him.”

BY THE NUMBERS

PLAYS OF THE GAME

Jamal Murray’s first points of the night.

Nice little inbounds play… Even better shot 😎#Nuggets https://t.co/QP5h2oHks4

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

Murray for three.

JAMAL
MURRAY
FOR
THREE#Nuggets #MileHighBasketball https://t.co/TA5Sx3tvwc

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

Chandler with a three of his own.

Chandler. Boom.

He's heating up, too! #Nuggets https://t.co/bh5Gf24GBC

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

Alley-oop up top to Faried.

Steal –> SLAM.#Nuggets https://t.co/m5WZtBn3co

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

Another three from Murray.

Get outta here, Rook!

(And by that we mean keep doing exactly what you're doing.) #Nuggets https://t.co/XoPKwK04Ko

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

Nurkic wit the alley-oop finish from Nelson.

Just beautiful 😍

Let's finish this! #Nuggets https://t.co/V7CZsyrjhy

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

Gallinari with the layup in the forth quarter.

Nice and easy… C'mon, c'mon! #Nuggets https://t.co/XcEkphabqg

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 23, 2016

QUOTE OF THE GAME

Malone on if the Nuggets are getting close to playing they want to play:

“I do. I think we’re playing at a really high level right now. Chicago is 4-1 coming into tonight. Toronto was in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. We are playing good basketball. By no means are we satisfied. By no means are we there yet but we are definitely heading in the right direction and I think we are just getting started.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Nuggets fly out immediately following the victory at home to take on the Utah Jazz, who the Nuggets beat Sunday. This will be the second time the Nuggets face the Utah in a four-day span.