Anthony Edwards had just punished Nikola Jokic in the corner, so he “had to” try to answer him. Jamal Murray then launched into a dribbling number, in front of the same Edwards. A Jokic screen and a spin move later, the Nuggets leader sent an impossible left-handed shot.
Missed. The pressure from “Ant”, in the middle of this third quarter, had paid off. And Mike Malone logically recalled his holder, almost incapable of making the slightest shot since the start of Game 6, to replace him with Reggie Jackson. One action among others at the heart of another dark evening for the Canadian.
“ We were terrible, I was terrible “, qualifies Jamal Murray in reference to his 10 points scored, with a indeed terrible 4/18 on shots. Asked about the defensive impact of Anthony Edwards, the playmaker wonders, or pretends to do so: “ Who ? On me ? On me ? »
Yes, on him. But rather than highlighting his “trashtalking” partner, he puts this clumsiness down to a bruised elbow: “ It was more related to that. Even on certain passes, my arm… It was more a question of attack with him, it was not linked to the fact that he was defending on me. He scored with a great success. »
The barometer of his team
Jamal Murray explains that he injured his elbow on a Rudy Gobert screen, and that the injury hampered him throughout the match. “ I put on numbing cream so I wouldn't have to feel it every time I extended my elbow. But everyone gets hurt. Ant just got injured, he came to play. […] I never managed to find my rhythm, and my team needed me tonight, but I didn't respond », delivers the leader, obviously “ disappointed » of its production.
The reigning champion now intends to take advantage of the two days of rest to get back on his feet, before Game 7. “ I just have to prepare myself and be able to be better for Sunday. Yes(it's necessary) be better for Sunday. I hope so, for the sake of our team. I hope I can do the right thing », displays the one who is the real barometer of his team in this series.
The leader averaged just under 20 points (50% shooting) during his team's three victories, compared to only 12 points (26%…) in the three defeats. What face will the Nuggets be entitled to on Sunday?
| Jamal Murray | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 82 | 22 | 40.4 | 33.4 | 88.3 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 81 | 32 | 45.1 | 37.8 | 90.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 16.7 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 43.7 | 36.7 | 84.8 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 59 | 32 | 45.6 | 34.6 | 88.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 18.5 |
| 2020-21 | DEN | 48 | 36 | 47.7 | 40.8 | 86.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 21.2 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 65 | 33 | 45.4 | 39.8 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 20.0 |
| 2023-24 | DEN | 59 | 32 | 48.1 | 42.5 | 85.3 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 21.2 |
| Total | 469 | 31 | 45.2 | 38.0 | 86.7 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 17.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
