After fending off removal in 2 straight games, Nikola Jokic sees a “unwinded” Denver Nuggets getting in Game 7 versus the Utah Jazz.
” To be honest it has actually been Game 7 the last two video games for us so I imply it is a win or go home for us,” Jokic said after Game 6 on Sunday. “Maybe that is why we are playing so relaxed so we dont have anything to fret about. We are going to go house if we lose. The energy is still go or win house so we just require to provide the effort. We dont give up on the plays, rebound and just help each other. That is why we are playing truly great right now.”
Playing on the edge of elimination in Games 5 and 6 seems to have brought out the finest of the Nuggets and Jamal Murray. And with Tuesdays game versus the Jazz being their 3rd straight seven-game series given that in 2015, the Nuggets might even feel a sense of convenience as they seek to become the 12th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win a best-of-seven series.
1 Related” I believe its crazy that for myself as a head coach and all of our young players, that this will be our third Game 7 already,” Denver coach Michael Malone stated after Mondays practice. “… It is something where we have actually been here before. Our people understand that every ownership matters and I believe we will have a convenience level because of the fact that we have been here prior to last season and in Game 5 and Game 6.”
No Nugget has elevated his play more than Murray, who is playing on a scoring level that just players like Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and series rival Donovan Mitchell have actually reached in playoff history. Murray scored 50 points in Game 6, making 17 of 24 shots, including 9-for-12 from beyond the arc, to go with 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
Its only fitting that the Murray-Mitchell duel will be settled by a Game 7. Mitchell is averaging 38.7 points and Murray is averaging 34.0 in this series. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this would be just the 17th time in NBA history that opposing gamers each averaged 30 points in a postseason series and it would be the first time two scorers did so at age 23 or younger.
” Life is an unusual thing, because it puts roadblocks in front of you,” an emotional Murray stated on Sunday night after Game 6. “Sometimes you got ta go through it; often you got ta walk around it. Often you got ta take a pause and look back at what youre gon na do, have a plan.
” And Ive just kinda put that completely, and down two starters, putting a novice in there that doesnt understand our plays fully and where to go, things like that makes me be more vocal, makes me put the ball in the hoop more.”
In Game 4, Murray had 50 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. In Game 5, he had 42 points, 8 rebounds and 8 helps. He joins Jordan as the only players in postseason history with three straight 40-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist games.
And now Murray and the Nuggets will play in another Game 7 after beating San Antonio in the first round in Game 7 and losing to Portland in Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals last season.
” Somebody is going home tomorrow night,” Malone stated. “And our strategy is for that not to be the Denver Nuggets. It is going to take a fantastic effort certainly. Im sure they will be prepared. They will make some modifications. Jamal has actually been going crazy. And we have to try to prepare our people as best as possible for what they may do.
” But from a mental and approach viewpoint, we have to leave it all on the line. We cant save anything. There is no tomorrow.”
” To be honest it has actually been Game 7 the last two games for us so I mean it is a win or go house for us,” Jokic said after Game 6 on Sunday. Our guys understand that every possession matters and I believe we will have a comfort level since of the fact that we have actually been here prior to last season and in Game 5 and Game 6.”
Murray scored 50 points in Game 6, making 17 of 24 shots, including 9-for-12 from beyond the arc, to go with 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Its just fitting that the Murray-Mitchell duel will be settled by a Game 7. In Game 4, Murray had 50 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
