Jamal Murray Leads Way In Denver Nuggets Best Defensive Game
The Denver Nuggets put together their best defensive performance of the season in a 122-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. The Nuggets held the Lakers to just 39.8% shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers.
Murray’s Defensive Impact
Jamal Murray was at the forefront of the Nuggets’ defensive effort. He was tasked with guarding LeBron James for much of the night and did an excellent job of making things difficult for the Lakers’ star. James finished with 22 points on 9-of-24 shooting. Murray also had three steals and two blocks.
“Jamal was phenomenal on the defensive end tonight,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “He set the tone for us with his intensity and effort. He made it tough for LeBron to get anything going.”
Team Effort
While Murray was the standout defender for the Nuggets, it was a team effort on that end of the court. Nikola Jokic had two blocks and two steals, while Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each had one steal and one block. The Nuggets also did a good job of communicating and rotating on defense, which helped them to limit the Lakers’ scoring opportunities.
“We knew that we had to play great defense tonight,” Jokic said. “The Lakers are a very talented team, so we had to make sure that we were locked in on that end of the court. I think we did a good job of communicating and helping each other out. “
Defensive Statistics
| Team | FG % | 3PT % | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
| Denver Nuggets | 49.1 | 39.1 | 46 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 12 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 39.8 | 30.8 | 35 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 17 |
Broader Implications
The Nuggets’ defensive performance against the Lakers is a sign that they are starting to figure things out on that end of the court. After allowing opponents to shoot 48.5% from the field in their first six games, the Nuggets have held their opponents to 43.4% shooting in their last three games.
If the Nuggets can continue to play defense at a high level, they will be a tough team to beat. They have a lot of offensive firepower, led by Jokic, Murray, and Gordon. But if they can also play defense like they did against the Lakers, they will be a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.
Conclusion
The Denver Nuggets’ 122-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night was a statement game for their defense. Led by Jamal Murray, the Nuggets held the Lakers to just 39.8% shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers. It was the Nuggets’ best defensive performance of the season, and it showed that they are starting to figure things out on that end of the court. If the Nuggets can continue to play defense at a high level, they will be a tough team to beat.
