The Denver Nuggets have been exceptional while three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is out with a knee injury, but they cannot win every game, with or without him. On Tuesday night, they suffered a close 109-107 loss to the Eastern Conference’s top team, the Detroit Pistons.
The Nuggets put together a valiant effort against the Pistons, as they even had two chances to tie the game with just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Jamal Murray got fouled on a three-point attempt twice in the closing seconds while the Nuggets were down by three, but both times, he missed a crucial free throw that would have given them a chance to force overtime.
After the game, Murray addressed his late free-throw woes and took blame for the Nuggets’ shortcomings in Tuesday’s loss.
“I just have to be better. I had a golden opportunity there, twice. I wanted to redeem myself, it just wasn’t my night. I have to be better. I can be better all throughout the game; it wasn’t just the missed free-throws. I didn’t play well today. The stats say otherwise, but I don’t feel like I made a major impact on the game, I didn’t take advantage of my opportunities, I played too slow. We have all the excuses in the world, but I just have to be better,” Murray said.