In a close loss to the Lakers on Thursday, Oct. 25, Jamal Murray registered 22 points and 10 rebounds in just over 34 minutes of action. Murray scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half, with one particular bucket coming in emphatic fashion.
Early in the fourth quarter, the right-handed Murray drove past Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and finished with a left-handed dunk over the outstretched arm of 7-foot centre JaVale McGee, who was recovering to get back in the play – it was Murray's first dunk of the 2018-19 season.
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Despite a relatively rough start to the year shooting-wise (39.4 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from deep), the Kitchener, Ont. native is averaging 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists through five games and the Nuggets are off to a 4-1 start.
Murray's first five games shouldn't be a cause for concern – through five games last season, he was averaging 8.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 28.8 percent from the field and 9.5 percent from 3-point range. In the sixth game of the 2017-18 season, the Nuggets guard exploded for 26 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
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After coming out of the gate slow in 2017, Murray averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from deep over the remaining 76 games.
Murray and the Nuggets take the floor again when they host the New Orleans Pelicans Monday night at 9 p.m. ET on NBATV Canada.