DENVER — Denver Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray is “feeling nice” and went by way of a full observe on Saturday, in accordance with head coach Michael Malone.
Murray injured his proper elbow when he ran right into a display set by Rudy Gobert within the opening moments of Minnesota’s 115-70 Sport 6 rout of the Nuggets. Murray mentioned after the sport on Thursday night time that he hoped for his crew’s sake he might get his elbow feeling proper by Sunday’s Sport 7.
However on the finish of Saturday’s observe, Murray stayed late to get pictures up and might be seen drilling a number of 3-pointers in a row whereas an assistant coach challenged the pictures.
“He feels nice,” Malone mentioned after observe.
Requested if Murray is hungry to play properly in Sport 7 after capturing simply 4-for-18 and scoring 10 factors in Sport 6, Malone mentioned his level guard “seemed very hungry at present.”
“Appear like he hadn’t eaten in two days,” Malone mentioned. “So hopefully that carries over tomorrow. I hope he would not eat till tomorrow till 6:00 p.m.”
Murray is averaging 19.7 factors on 50% capturing, together with 42% on 3-pointers, in Denver’s three wins this sequence. Within the three losses to Minnesota, Murray is averaging 11.7 factors and 26% capturing.
Sport 7, although, will not be a brand new expertise for Murray, Nikola Jokic and Malone. These three have been in 4 Sport 7’s because the 2019 postseason. They’re 3-1 in these video games, profitable their final two within the NBA’s Bubble when the Nuggets got here again from down 3-1 to beat the Jazz and Clippers within the first two rounds in 2020.
“The message is easy, man,” Malone mentioned of what he instructed his crew. “Sport 7’s are nice. Take pleasure in it. Me, Jamal and Nikola, we have been a part of 4 of these video games in our six years within the playoffs. That is why you’re employed so arduous to get home-court benefit for, in entrance of the very best followers within the NBA.
“And we all know that in Sport 7, each possession issues. There could be no ‘my dangerous’s’ tomorrow.”
Michael Porter Jr., who has scored a complete of 18 factors within the final three video games, says the defending champs have loads of big-game expertise to lean on. He additionally cited how the Nuggets beat the Wolves at dwelling, 116-107, within the third-to-last common season recreation when each groups had been jockeying for home-court benefit within the postseason.
“Sport 7’s are all the time nice video games,” Porter mentioned. “However we performed in numerous large video games, you already know what I imply?
“… We had the same recreation towards them to resolve what was speculated to be the one seed late within the season. So we performed this crew in large moments and we’re trying ahead to the problem.”
