Jamaal Murray performed just below 28 minutes, his longest this season, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-99, sending LA to a 0-4 begin.
Murray scored 13 factors on 40 p.c taking pictures from the sector, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists.
The 25-year-old guard, who missed all of final season with an ACL damage, struggled from behind the arc, taking pictures simply 1 of seven however had a monster dunk on a fastbreak within the first quarter.
“I simply walked over to him within the huddle, gave him a giant hug, and stated, `Hey, man, huge image. I consider in you. I really like you. I do know who you might be, and I do know the place you’re going to be sooner or later,”” stated Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated.
Murray tore his ACL in April 2021.
His damage was certainly one of a rash of injuries to plague the NBA throughout the compressed season following the prolonged bubble playoffs in Orlando after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the common season.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic nearly had one other triple-double with 31 factors, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists.
4 different Nuggets, Murray, Bruce Brown, Jeff Inexperienced, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, additionally scored in double figures, and Denver bested the Lakers throughout the board in game stats, together with taking pictures 81 p.c from the free throw line in comparison with LA’s dismal 68.8 p.c.
And whereas new coach Darvin Ham had his group taking part in protection for the primary time since LA gained the bubble title, the Lakers gave up 35 fastbreak factors in opposition to the Nuggets.
“We work on our rules. We watch movie on them. We speak about them on a regular basis. I hate to make use of the altitude as an excuse, and I’m not going to do this. Guys gotta be dedicated constantly. They’re a quick group. Jokic likes to throw deep, lengthy retailers,” said Hamm. “That’s the primary line of protection, your transition protection. We’ll return, take a look at it, and attempt to see what we will repair.”
The Nuggets host the Utah Jazz at house Friday, and the Lakers journey to Minnesota to try to get their first win of the season.
