The Denver Nuggets are coming off one of the worst losses in NBA playoff history, with a 45 point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night.
The Nuggets struggled to get any rhythm going on offense and were only able to muster up 70 points.
Nobody struggled more than Jamal Murray, who shot 4/18 from the field and scored 10 points. Murray shot about 50 percent while averaging 20 points in the previous three games, which were all Nuggets wins.
Jamal Murray is going to have to bounce back in Game 7 if the Denver Nuggets want to get past the Wolves.
Denver Nuggets Struggles From 3-Point Land
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The Denver Nuggets had a very forgettable game from the 3 point arc in game 6. As a unit, they shot 7 for 36, a putrid 19.4%.
Denver’s bench is usually very reliable when it comes to giving an energy boost and knocking down big shots when Jokic or Murray aren’t in the game. That was not the case in game 6. The Nuggets bench shot 0 for 9 from 3 and only totaled 9 points overall.
I’d be shocked if we saw Denver have a performance remotely close to this in back to back games.
Jamal Murray Key To Nuggets Success
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While we know about the greatness of 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way for Denver, Jamal Murray has also been one of best playoff performers we have seen in recent years.
Murray has never made an all star team, but when the playoffs start, he rises to the occasion. He has multiple 50 point playoff performances, game winners, and an NBA championship on his resume.
However, this series against Minnesota has not been smooth sailing for Murray. The Wolves length and athleticism defensively have been bothering him all series long. Easy buckets for Murray have been hard to come by.
Murray had good showings in game 3, 4, and 5, but even watching those game you could see how difficult the shots he was making were.
Jamal Murray is an elite shot maker and Denver will need him to get some tough buckets against the suffocating Wolves defense in Game 7.
Who Has the Edge in Game 7?
Arguably the two best words in sports, Game Seven. Throw the record books out the window, it’s win or go home time. Nuggets. Timberwolves. One game.
The Denver Nuggets are the defending NBA champions. There is no doubt that the moment will not be too big for them.
Add in that the Nuggets have the reigning MVP/ best player in world Nikola Jokic, and that the game will be in Denver. It would be hard to bet against the Nuggets in this spot.
Now the fact that we are in a game 7 means that the Wolves have also won three games, so they have clearly shown they aren’t overmatched by the defending champs. We have seen 22 year old Anthony Edwards blossom into a superstar in front of our eyes these playoffs.
Minnesota has also shown the ability to win on the road. The Wolves won game 1 and 2 in Denver and are 5-1 on the road overall these playoffs.
The Wolves showed heart when facing elimination in game 6 and look to keep that momentum going into game 7. They will not be intimidated by the hostile Denver crowd.
It should be a great game and I’m rolling with the defending champion Denver Nuggets to win and keep their title defense alive.
About the Author
Cory is an Oregon Duck alumni and has been following college basketball closely for years. He attended over 30 games across the country this season alone.
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