“They punked us again” - Jamal Murray doesn’t mince words after embarrassing 45-point beatdown
The Denver Nuggets and Jamal Murray were overwhelmed by the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second time in the series, suffering a 115-70 defeat in Game 6. The game spiraled out of control for Denver just eight minutes in, and they never managed to recover.
The Nuggets began the game with an early 9-2 lead but quickly unraveled. The entire team struggled, with Murray's cold shooting particularly detrimental. Denver's point guard went 1-for-10 in the first half and finished 4-for-18 for the game, scoring just 10 points and adding five assists.
Following the loss, Murray took to the postgame interview, where he was asked whether it was their lack of execution or just a matter of making or missing shots, to which he replied:
"They came to play today, just like how they punked us in Game 2, we punked them Game 3 and 4. They punked us again in Game 6, so all that is now behind us."
Nikola Jokic contributed 22 points and nine rebounds on the night but was restricted to just two assists, as Denver shot a mere 31.0% from the floor, appearing completely overmatched and undisciplined.
Denver Nuggets and Jamal Murray need to recalibrate for Game 7
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 27 points, while Jaden McDaniels contributed 21, showcasing his prowess both at the rim and from deep. Mike Conley, returning after missing Game 5, added 13 points and provided crucial leadership as the floor general Minnesota had been missing.
The Timberwolves approached the game with the urgency of a must-win situation, whereas Denver didn't match Wolves' intensity and paid the price. Game 7 will be a true must-win for both teams, and it remains to be seen if Denver can summon the energy and execution required to come out on top.
Jamal Murray continues with inconsistent shooting in Western Conference semifinals
Jamal Murray missed his first two shots, while on the other end, Rudy Gobert finished an alley-oop from Karl-Anthony Towns and flexed his elbow, which seemed to bother him for the rest of the quarter.
Murray then had a shot blocked, which led to a Minnesota 3-pointer. While Kentavious Caldwell-Pope responded with a 3 of his own, Denver failed to score again for the rest of the quarter, entering the second down 31-14.
Jamal Murray's shooting struggles early on contributed to Denver's downfall, but they were merely a symptom of a larger issue. His 1-for-10 performance in the first half was a poor decision, yet the Nuggets compounded the problem by collectively shooting 4-for-21 from deep and neglecting to attack the rim and force the action.
Despite Rudy Gobert's high-activity presence in the paint, the Nuggets opted to take low-percentage shots instead of challenging Minnesota's defense, a decision that proved costly.
Game 7 takes place in Denver on Sunday at Ball Arena.