Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray put together a ridiculous performance in the bubble, leading everyone to think he would make the jump into superstardom during the 2020-21 NBA season. Instead, he’s looked like the exact same player he was over the previous two seasons (which is still good!)… at least until the last week.
Murray has scored 25-plus points in four straight games, and capped it off with an incredible 50-point showing in the Nuggets’ 120-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
50 points are a regular-season career-high for Murray; he also scored 50 points to force a Game 7 vs the Utah Jazz in the bubble. And the way he reached the 50 points is a way that has never happened in NBA history.
Murray was an insanely efficient 21-of-25 from the field (that’s 84%) and 8-for-10 on three-pointers. He didn’t take a single free throw. No player in NBA history has ever scored 50 points without shooting a free throw.
According to @EliasSports Jamal Murray is the 1st player in NBA history to drop 50 without shooting a free throw. pic.twitter.com/l9mQZNEi7G
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 20, 2021
Additionally, he’s the first player in NBA history to score at least 50 points while shooting 80% or better from the field and behind the arc.
Jamal Murray makes NBA history! 🏹🏹🏹 pic.twitter.com/XmHNMtbdVi
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2021
A truly amazing shooting and scoring performance, and maybe Murray is indeed ready to make the jump after all.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.