Jokic, Malone believe Murray has earned superstar status
Jamal Murray continued his breakthrough playoff campaign with 28 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds in the Denver Nuggets' 114-106 Game 3 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Murray's exploits certainly haven't gone unnoticed, as the guard's consistency throughout the postseason has been a source of comfort for Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
"I know every night what I'm getting from Jamal," Malone said postgame, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "Last year, we knew what we were getting from Nikola (Jokic), but what kind of game would Jamal have? That's no longer the case.
"We have two superstars in Nikola and Jamal."
Murray has been a different animal during these playoffs.
| PPG | APG | FG% | 3-PT FG% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | 18.5 | 4.8 | 45.6 | 34.6 |
| Playoffs | 26.6 | 6.5 | 50.5 | 47.7 |
He ranks ninth in postseason scoring and leads all players with 62 triples.
Murray has thrived with the game on the line. He's averaging 4.3 points on 60% shooting - including a scorching 72.7% mark from deep - during clutch situations, according to NBA.com.
The Kentucky product drilled a pair of late 3-pointers to put away the Lakers on Tuesday. Murray's eight clutch-time triples during the Nuggets' playoff run is the second most in the last 20 postseasons behind only Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
"He is built for the big shots," said Jokic. "I really, truly believe that he's a superstar."
Murray and the Nuggets can even the Western Conference final with a victory Thursday.