Jamal Murray struggled massively in Game 6, as the Minnesota Timberwolves blew out the Denver Nuggets 115-70 on Thursday. After the game, Murray was asked just how difficult Anthony Edwards had made life for him on the court, and the Canadian wasn’t really in the mood to give the Timberwolves guard much praise for his defense.
“I mean, who? For me? For me? I mean, it was less about his, it was more about my elbow at that point,” Murray said. “… It was more offensively for him. It wasn’t him guarding me, he was scoring on the other end and scoring at a great rate.
“Then on top of that, Mike Conley, (Jaden) McDaniels had a great game,” Murray continued. “Everybody on their team just brought their game today. We weren’t able to defend them and keep them out of our paint or get them off the line. We just gotta be better.”
Murray, who had injured his elbow very early in the game after a collision with Rudy Gobert, was asked if he felt better as the contest went on and stated that he didn’t.
“No, clearly not.” Murray said. “I put some numbing cream on it just so I didn’t have to feel it every time I extended. But like I said man, everybody gets hurt. Ant just got hurt… I was never really (able) to get into my rhythm again, and my team obviously needed me to tonight, and I didn’t. I’m disappointed in myself for not being able to give them the right production that I know I can.”
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While Murray was dismissive of Edwards’ defense, the numbers suggest he has been giving him some problems throughout this series. As per the NBA, he has shot 26.1% from the field when guarded by the Timberwolves star in these six games.
That elbow problem just might have made matters even worse for Murray as he ended up having arguably the worst playoff game of his career. The 27-year-old finished with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal.
Murray also shot just 4-18 from the field and 2-7 from beyond the arc. You can usually point to at least one good thing that a player did in a game, but I can’t think of any positives to come out of this one for him. Murray was asked if he thought he would fully recover in time for Game 7 on Monday and he hopes he will. I sure hope that too.
Jamal Murray Is Having The Worst Postseason Of His Career
Murray has earned a reputation for being one of the finest playoff risers of this generation and rightly so. He played a big role in the Nuggets winning the championship last year but he just hasn’t gotten going this time around.
Following this display in Game 6, Murray is now averaging 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 39.2% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc. That’s a playoff career-low for points as well as shooting percentages.
A big reason why this 2024 postseason for Murray hasn’t been viewed as a total disaster so far is those two game-winners against the Los Angeles Lakers. He has also dealt with some injuries, with the calf being a problem before the elbow. Murray will get a chance at redemption in Game 7, though, and knowing his history, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does rise up to the occasion.
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