Last Saturday, the Clippers gave the Nuggets a run for their money. Coming in strong for the playoffs opener, they took the game down to the wire. Sure, Nikola Jokic and Co. eventually won in overtime, but the LA team’s performance was a clear warning – They must not be taken lightly. Cut to yesterday’s Game 2 clash. This time, the Clippers came more prepared and finally beat the former champs at home in another thrilling encounter.
Kawhi Leonard led the charge with his 39-point performance, and his teammates followed suit. In the end, it was Norman Powell’s three off Michael Porter Jr.’s turnover that gave the Clippers a three-point cushion and guided them to victory. Now, with the series tied, the pressure is on the Nuggets to win one on the road this Thursday and keep their title dreams alive. Despite last night’s brutal loss, Jamal Murray has not lost hope.
Revealing his team’s mentality for Game 3, Murray said, “Same kind of mentality. Just gotta hit first and play fast and play with some confidence you know what I’m saying. Kind of take the life out the gym. We’re just gonna go over there and play hard. That’s what the game is about.” Well, Thursday will be the first time the Clippers’ Intuit Dome hosts a playoff game. And Murray plans on ruining the historic night by beating the home team in front of their fans.
He continued, “Like I said, the stat sheet and everybody misses shots and stuff like that, whatever, but just playing hard is not on the stat sheet. So, I think if we just do that, play physical and like I said, be confident on the road, we can replicate what we’ve done in past years and get the job done.”
Yes, the Nuggets have been really good on the road in past playoffs during the Jokic and Murray era, especially in LA. Of course, it was the Lakers who faced their wrath and not the Clippers. But the Denver team will not mind giving the same treatment to Ty Lue’s squad. The last time they faced the Clippers in the playoffs was back in 2020, and the Nuggets won the seven-game classic. Well, a lot of their strategy for Thursday will depend on MPJ’s health.
Jamal Murray “not worried” about Michael Porter Jr. after Game 2 injury scare
Last night’s loss hurt the Nuggets in more ways than one. During the closing minutes, Michael Porter Jr. suffered a brutal injury scare after hurting his shoulder while diving for a loose ball. Now, everyone is concerned about his availability for Thursday. But Jamal Murray is not, as he said, “Not really worried about Mike, man. He’s gonna compete. He’s always gonna bounce back.”
Dec 3, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) passes the ball to forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) as Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (7) defends in the third quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Moreover, he had high praise for the sharpshooter, “Always gonna take that personal, whatever y’all were talking about. So, he came in, he made impact. He was grabbing boards, he was talking, he was just more committed, and he hit a couple big shots, big rebounds, and stuff like that. So, I thought he played great.” Apart from the injury scare, MPJ had a solid overall performance, finishing with a 15-point double-double.
But Murray says he would have enjoyed it more on one condition, “Just would have felt a lot better if we came out with the dub. But we didn’t.” Hopefully, Porter will be able to suit up on Thursday and help his team win. Maybe then, Murray will be able to fully soak in his impact. Thoughts?
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