Nuggets Survive a Scare: Jamal Murray’s 45-Point Masterpiece Carries Denver Past Utah Jazz 128-125
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t comfortable. And at times, it looked like the Denver Nuggets were going to hand a game-worn, injury-riddled Utah Jazz team one of the most surprising wins of the season. But Jamal Murray wouldn’t let that happen.
Murray poured in 45 points — hitting clutch shot after clutch shot — and drilled the go-ahead free throws with 31.8 seconds left to push the Nuggets past the Jazz 128-125 on Monday night at the Delta Center. Denver improved to 38-24. Utah dropped to 18-43 and extended its losing streak to six straight.
This one stung. And it should have.
Jamal Murray Was the Nuggets’ Only Lifeline
The Nuggets entered Monday riding a brutal stretch — three losses in four games, including a 117-108 beating at the hands of Minnesota just the night before. The back-to-back schedule was taking its toll, and for long stretches of this game, it showed badly. Legs were dead. Energy was gone. Nobody looked like themselves.
Nobody, that is, except Murray.
With Nikola Jokic parked on the bench and most of his teammates running on fumes, Murray took over in the third quarter and refused to let the Nuggets fold. He went off for 18 points in the period alone, drilling five three-pointers and waking up a Denver offense that looked completely lost. He finished 13-of-19 from the field, knocked down 8 three-pointers, and added 8 assists. He also had 7 turnovers — a reminder that even in his best moments, this game was messy.
But when it mattered most, Murray delivered. Two free throws with 31.8 seconds remaining. Two more from Jokic with 6.1 seconds left. And just like that, the Nuggets were out of Salt Lake City with a win they probably didn’t deserve.
Jokic Battled Foul Trouble — and a Controversial Call
Nikola Jokic finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, but the real story surrounding the big man came late in the fourth quarter. With 16.3 seconds left and Utah trailing by one, Keyonte George drove to the basket and appeared to draw a shooting foul — one that would have sent him to the line with a chance to take the lead on what would have been Jokic’s sixth foul.
After a lengthy review, officials reversed the call. Blocked shot. No foul. Jokic stayed on the floor.
It was a gut-punch moment for the Jazz and their fans. George, who had been phenomenal all night, never got the chance to win it from the line. Jokic then calmly knocked down two free throws to seal it, George’s desperation three at the buzzer fell short, and the Nuggets escaped.
Keyonte George Gave the Nuggets Everything They Could Handle
Let’s be clear: the Utah Jazz should not have been in this game. Lauri Markkanen is out. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic had season-ending surgeries. Vince Williams Jr. tore his ACL. This is a depleted roster playing out the string.
And yet, Keyonte George made it a four-quarter war.
Back just for his second game after missing three weeks with ankle sprains, George dropped 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, adding four three-pointers and four steals. His thunderous dunk with 2:13 left gave Utah a 122-118 lead and sent the Delta Center crowd into a frenzy. He matched Murray shot-for-shot at his best and did it in just 30 minutes.
Kyle Filipowski added 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ace Bailey chipped in 18. This Jazz team, for one night at least, was not going quietly.
Nuggets Get Secondary Contributions — Barely
Beyond Murray, the Nuggets leaned heavily on their role players to stay afloat. Julian Strawther, stepping into the starting lineup with Cam Johnson scratched late due to an ankle injury, finished with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Jonas Valanciunas provided a reliable 13 points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes, showing the kind of efficient, no-nonsense production Denver needed on a night when nothing came easy.
Christian Braun quietly had 11 points and six rebounds. Jalen Pickett contributed 8 points off the bench. But Tim Hardaway Jr. struggled badly, going 3-of-11 from the field and 1-of-8 from three. On a night Denver desperately needed secondary scoring, Hardaway’s lack of production made everything harder than it needed to be.
What’s Next for the Nuggets
The Nuggets now head home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. They’ll look to build momentum after back-to-back rough nights, and there’s reason for optimism — Aaron Gordon, who has missed 15 straight games with a hamstring strain, is expected to return this week. His presence on both ends of the floor would be a massive boost for a Denver team that still has real Western Conference aspirations.
But make no mistake: Monday night was a warning. The Nuggets can’t survive on 45-point performances from Murray every time they sleepwalk through a game. The margin for error gets thinner with every loss, and nights like this one — grinding out an ugly three-point win over an 18-43 team — don’t inspire confidence heading into the stretch run.
Murray saved them. The Nuggets won. And that’s the good news. Everything else? They’ve got work to do.
