Nuggets coach lauds Murray's 43-point effort: 'He was born for this'

Head coach David Adelman praised point guard Jamal Murray after his 43-point performance in the Denver Nuggets' 131-115 Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

"These big moments, these situations - he was born for this," Adelman said, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "You can kind of tell the way the ball comes off his hand on certain nights. ... When it's flowing like that, it's the guy that's won us so many playoff games in the past."

Murray shot 17-of-26 from the field, including 8-for-14 from three. He joins Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Ray Allen, and Stephen Curry as players to hit eight 3-pointers in at least three career playoff games.

Along with 43 points, Murray added seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals in 40 minutes. The 28-year-old stepped up for Nikola Jokic, who recorded 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.

"When he's complementary with Nikola, it's great," Adelman said. "But it sure is nice to have these nights where it's his show. We needed it tonight in a big game."

Murray is averaging 24.6 points, 6.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in the playoffs. A noted postseason riser, he posted 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game during Denver's championship run in 2023.

"This is really what it's about," Murray said. "Just coming down, playing hard and everybody trying to be on the same page with whatever we're trying to accomplish."

The Nuggets would reach the Western Conference semifinals and face the Oklahoma City Thunder with a victory Thursday.