For the first time in his NBA regular season career, Jamal Murray scored 50 points.
It’s hard to believe that this is Murray’s first time scoring 50. He’s been close against the Boston Celtics (48) and Phoenix Suns (46) in his career, but he finally reached that threshold tonight, capped off by a ferocious dunk to seal a Denver Nuggets win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Murray scored those 50 points in as efficient a way as he possibly could, making 21 of his 25 field goal attempts and 8-of-10 from behind the three-point line. If you’re good at math, you know that adds up to 50 points by itself. Murray didn’t attempt a free throw all game. He didn’t need to, as he was in the U C state from tipoff to buzzer: unconscious.
This was an incredible performance from Murray capped off by a number of incredible stats on his efficient shooting. This was the most points scored by any player in NBA history without attempting a free throw. It was the first 50-point game in NBA history without attempting a free throw. It was tied for the second most efficient 50-point performance in NBA history with Wilt Chamberlain.
As noted above, this is the first time in NBA history that two 25 and under teammates have scored 50 in the same season. Murray and Nikola Jokić are also the first teammates to score 50 points for the same franchise this season.
Murray is up to 20.6 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.4 rebounds on the season while shooting 47.4% from the field, 38.3% from three, and 80.9% from the free throw line. His true shooting percentage is up over 58%. It’s safe to say that Bubble Murray never really left, but rather took a small rest and has ceded some extra offensive possessions to Jokić every game.
That’s okay though, because Nuggets fans were just reminded what Murray is capable of. He’s an incredible player and an incredible talent, and the Nuggets franchise is thankful to have him.
