{"id":713605,"date":"2026-04-19T01:33:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T01:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713605\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T01:33:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T01:33:18","slug":"jamal-murray-finds-way-to-lead-denver-nuggets-to-game-1-win-over-timberwolves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713605\/","title":{"rendered":"Jamal Murray finds way to lead Denver Nuggets to Game 1 win over Timberwolves"},"content":{"rendered":"

It didn\u2019t matter if it was Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo or Ayo Dosunmu standing in front of Jamal Murray on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIrrelevant,\u201d Murray said of the different defenders Minnesota sent his way after Denver\u2019s 116-105 win in Game 1 at Ball Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody is going to chase me. Somebody is going to push me. \u2026 I get a screen, and I score.\u201d<\/p>\n

And score he did. Murray\u2019s 30 points led all players. He scored 16 of those points from the free throw line without a miss, setting a new career high for free throws attempted and free throws made in a game.<\/p>\n

\u201cJamal is amazing,\u201d Nikola Jokic said after a 25-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist performance. \u201c(He\u2019s) one of the best free-throw shooters in the game, in my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

That drew the ire of Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who called it a \u201chead scratcher.\u201d Murray disagreed, citing a few of his free throws were the result of away-from-the-ball fouls and technicals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I got fouled on every single one of them,\u201d Murray said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what everybody is talking about. It\u2019s real fouls. It\u2019s just being aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DenverDenver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots the ball while being defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) in the 2nd quarter of the first game of the first round of the NBA Championships at Ball Arena on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 116-105. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

McDaniels started the game by picking up Murray full court, as he has for many of their previous meetings. It worked for a while. With other Nuggets bringing the ball up the court, Murray missed both of his field-goal attempts in the first quarter. His only points of the opening quarter came on a three-shot foul committed by McDaniels that was upgraded to a Flagrant 1. It was no coincidence Denver trailed by 10 after the first quarter.<\/p>\n

By halftime, Murray had 17 points,11 from the line, to tie the game. His makes from the field came after he beat Dosunmu off the dribble and hit over Mike Conley. Then came another step-back mid-range jumper over Dosunmu and a pull-up jumper over Rudy Gobert after a screen from Nikola Jokic on McDaniels forced a switch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just toughness, man. He\u2019s got a lot of responsibilities, a lot of different people guarding him that are high-level defenders that had a hold of his jersey throughout the night,\u201d Nuggets coach David Adelman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMcDaniels, he works hard. Anthony Edwards is on him, Dosunmu, this is a challenge. I just thought, mentally, he fought through it, and they were timely shots that he made \u2013 midrange jump shots where they were on a run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray was at his best off the bounce in the third quarter. There was a hesitation move that froze Julius Randle after the Nuggets\u2019 guard blew past DiVincenzo and finished with a finger roll. Denver\u2019s lead grew to 15 in the third after a driving three-point play and a turnaround jumper over McDaniels outstretched hand.<\/p>\n

The only thing that went wrong was a 0-for-8 mark from 3-point range that left him 7-for-22 from the field for the game. Murray shot a career-best 43.5% on 3s in the regular season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not going to happen (again). You know the rhythm he\u2019s been in,\u201d Adelman said. \u201cJamal has been Jamal all year, just tough-minded.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DenverDenver Nuggets Head Coach David Adelman has a chat will Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in the third quarter of the first game of the first round of the NBA Championships at Ball Arena on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 116-105. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old said he\u2019s revisited the previous Game 1 performances of his career prior to Saturday\u2019s game. He recalled the adrenaline being so high that he pulled up from the logo early in his first playoff game against San Antonio back in 2019. Now, there\u2019s a calmness to Murray that allows him to produce regardless of which defender stands in his way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try not to overthink,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like there\u2019s so many different things that can factor in different ways, but when I just put my mind to doing what I do, what I know how to do the best, what I\u2019ve been doing for almost 30 years, then there\u2019s not much thinking that goes on. I just go out there and play my game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nuggets 116, Timberwolves105<\/p>\n

What happened: Denver erased a 10-point deficit after the first quarter and tied the game at 62 by halftime. Minnesota fell behind by 12 after three quarters and made things interesting late but couldn\u2019t get over the hump.<\/p>\n

What went right: The Nuggets allowed just 17 points in the third quarter and 43 in the entire second half.<\/p>\n

What went wrong: Denver, which finished the regular season with the league\u2019s best 3-point percentage, went 10 of 36 from 3-point range. Minnesota shot slightly better, going 11 of 34 from deep.<\/p>\n

Highlight of the day: Aaron Gordon euro-stepped around Donte DiVincenzo and threw down a dunk despite a strong contest from Anthony Edwards early in the third quarter. The two-handed slam gave the Nuggets a two-point advantage.<\/p>\n

Up next: Denver hosts Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. Monday.<\/p>\n


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