The Denver Nuggets delivered a comprehensive defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday evening, thoroughly outclassing their visiting opponents. With Jamal Murray back from injury, the Nuggets cruised to a commanding 142-110 victory, marking their highest scoring game of the season.
Jamal Murray’s comeback from injury ignites the team’s momentum.
Throughout the season, Jamal Murray has been contending with recurring injuries. His most recent setback was a knee injury that caused him to miss seven consecutive games. During Murray’s absence, the Nuggets managed to secure victories, but they also suffered critical losses against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. In these defeats, Murray’s absence was keenly felt due to his playmaking abilities and knack for scoring in clutch moments. Even in their wins, the Nuggets didn’t exhibit the same level of dominance that they had when Murray was on the court as a starter.
In his comeback game, Murray had a limited playing time. However, in the 20 minutes he spent on the court, he managed to contribute significantly, scoring 16 points, dishing out six assists, grabbing three rebounds, and shooting 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. While the Nuggets undoubtedly appreciated Murray’s return, the Hawks also quickly recognized his impact.
“He’s an exceptional player. He and Jokic form the best duo in the league, and defending them is a challenge,” remarked Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, as reported by ESPN. “When Jokic needs someone to score, he relies on Murray, and that’s essentially their dynamic.”
Although Murray’s return is welcomed, the Nuggets intend to gradually reintegrate him into the lineup, implementing a minutes restriction. Coach Malone emphasizes that the team prioritizes player health over playoff seeding. Nonetheless, following this victory, the Nuggets have edged half a game ahead of the Timberwolves for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Despite Jamal Murray’s promising return and Nikola Jokic’s customary triple-double, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also shone on the court. Caldwell-Pope emerged as the leading scorer for the Nuggets, tallying 24 points. Notably, he displayed exceptional accuracy from beyond the arc, shooting 6-for-9 (66.7%) from three-point range.
In recent games, the Nuggets encountered some difficulties in converting their three-point attempts. Yet, against the Hawks, they made significant strides in this aspect, shooting an impressive 56.1% from beyond the arc.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, speaking through The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando, remarked, “During our recent struggles in shooting since the All-Star break, it wasn’t due to poor shot selection. We were simply not capitalizing on open and wide-open opportunities. I believe Caldwell-Pope is benefiting from excellent passes from his teammates, and he’s executing with remarkable confidence. He’s recognized as one of the premier shooters in the league.”
Similar to Murray, Caldwell-Pope has faced intermittent injuries throughout the entire season. With just four games remaining in the Nuggets’ regular season, Caldwell-Pope appears to be hitting top form at a crucial juncture. Indeed, his recent displays have garnered attention from his fellow teammates.
“He’s shooting with confidence,” remarked Jamal Murray. “He went through a brief period—I hesitate to call it a slump—where his shooting wasn’t up to his usual standard for a few games, and I think everyone experiences that at some point. However, he seems to have rediscovered his rhythm in the last couple of games, and since then, he’s been putting the ball into the basket with ease.”