The NBA Playoffs have become a stage for former Kentucky players to showcase their talents, and Wednesday night was no exception. This time, it was Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets guard and ex-Wildcat, who stole the spotlight, scoring 40 points in a 122-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. With this win, the top-seeded Nuggets now have a 2-0 lead in the series.
Murray’s Impressive Performance
Murray was on fire, making 13 of 22 shots, including 6 of 10 three-pointers, and 8 of 9 free throws. He also contributed five assists, three rebounds, and two steals to the team’s win. This performance made him the sixth UK guard to score 30 or more points in these playoffs, joining the ranks of the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker (38), Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox (38) and Malik Monk (32), Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey (33), and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32).
In his 34 career playoff games, Murray now boasts five 40-point games, earning him the Nuggets’ franchise record. This achievement also surpasses legendary players such as Oscar Robertson, Karl Malone, Alex English, Paul Pierce, Reggie Miller, Tim Duncan, and Magic Johnson.
Murray’s NBA and Kentucky Career
In his sixth NBA season, Murray averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and a career-high 6.2 assists, while shooting an impressive 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. He managed to achieve these numbers while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in April of 2021.
During his time at Kentucky in the 2015-16 season, Murray averaged 20 points per game, the highest by any player during the John Calipari era. He was also named a Second Team All-American by USA Today, a Third Team All-American by the Associated Press, a First Team All-SEC selection, and made it to the SEC All-Tournament Team.
Murray’s Legacy Continues
As a former 5-star recruit from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Murray was ranked as the No. 10 overall prospect and No. 1 shooting guard in the 2015 class. He chose Kentucky over Oregon in June of 2015. As he continues to thrive in the NBA, his time at Kentucky remains a crucial part of his journey and an inspiration for future generations of Wildcats.