Fans Compare Jamal Murray To Michael Jordan After Flu Game Helps Nuggets Beat OKC

NBA fans react as Jamal Murray's 'Flu Game' in Game 6 vs. the Thunder helps Nuggets win.

4 Min Read

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Nuggets forced a Game 7 in their series with the Thunder (OKC) after winning Game 6 119-107 in Denver. The MVP front-runners Nikola Jokic (29 points) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 points) had great performances, respectively. However, the X-factor for the Nuggets was Jamal Murray’s 25-point performance. 

Before the game, Jamal Murray was added to the injury list due to an illness, but he still decided to play as the Nuggets faced elimination. Fans on the internet compared it to Michael Jordan’s iconic flu game in the 1997 NBA Finals. When Jordan played his iconic flu game, he ended Game 5 of the series against the Utah Jazz with 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in 44 minutes played. While the importance of the game is not on the same level, both situations were arguably must-win for both players’ teams.

Spectators took to social media and compared Murray to Jordan. They wrote:

Moreover, fans also expressed their opinions instead of just adding the GIFs to compare the greatness. Some fans already anticipated such a game when the injury status was announced before the game.

“I had no idea Jamal Murray was questionable due to illness before I put some $$$ on him. Oh well, what’s done is done & you better have yourself an MJ Flu Game tonight Murray & win me my parlay!!!”, wrote another fan after hearing Murray was playing despite his illness.

“Jamal Murray got Michael Jordan flu game here in game 6”, wrote another fan on X after the Nuggets destroyed the Thunder down the stretch. 


What Does This Mean For The Denver Nuggets?

With Jamal Murray playing like Michael Jordan in Game 6, the Nuggets have the momentum on their side going into Game 7 of this series. It seemed as though with Michael Porter Jr.’s shoulder injury and Jamal Murray’s illness, the Nuggets would be shorthanded. However, the Nuggets’ role players stepped up today to deliver the final blow alongside Murray.

Michael Porter Jr. had 10 points, and Aaron Gordon only had 5 points. However, Christian Braun and Julian Strawther covered up for the veterans’ off-night. Braun finished the game with 23 points, and Julian Strawther knocked down some back-breaking threes down the stretch and finished with 15 points. Therefore, Murray and Jokic did not have to carry the offensive burden alone.

While it is easier to expect young players to step up in a home game, the veteran experience tends to become key in games that are on the road. Therefore, in Game 7, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. will have to brush off the memories of a rough Game 6 and help Murray and Jokic lead the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals. 

Aaron Gordon’s game-winner in Game 1 helped the Nuggets win on the road. Our prediction says the Nuggets are capable of pulling off another upset like that and will win this series in seven games.

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Chaitanya Dadhwal is an NBA Analyst and Columnist at Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. He fell in love with basketball in 2018 after seeing James Harden in his prime. He joined the sports journalism world in 2021, one year before finishing his law school in 2022. He attended Jindal Global Law School in Sonipat, India, where his favorite subject was also Sports Law.He transitioned from law to journalism after realizing his true passion for sports and basketball in particular. Even though his journalism is driven by his desire to understand both sides of an argument and give a neutral perspective, he openly admits he is biased towards the Houston Rockets and Arsenal. But that intersection of in-depth analysis and passion helps him simplify the fine print and complex language for his readers.His goal in life is to open his own sports management agency one day and represent athletes. He wants to ensure he can help bridge the gap in equal opportunity for athletes across various sports and different genders playing the same sport.
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