LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Jamal Murray scored 23 points in his first game of the NBA second half, including tied baskets and the go-ahead, and on Saturday the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 134-132 in two overtime.
The Nuggets surpassed Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points for Utah, including a triple with 4.2 seconds left in the second overtime. But by the end of the game he missed a gasp of despair from almost half the pitch.
Murray, playing his first game since March 11 after missing four games with left hamstring strain, sunk a hovering jumper for a 123 draw and then beat the shot clock with a green light from 3 points. He had 12 rebounds and eight assists, missing only a triple double.
Murray played 39 minutes and remained in the game despite obvious signs of fatigue as Denver gained momentum for the playoffs.
“I should have only played 22,” Murray said when asked about his minutes. “It’s nice. I like challenges and I feel much better now that we have won.”
Murray said the key was to “just be on the same page” with his teammates and “get that chemistry back.”
Nikola Jokic scored 10 of his 30 points in the first half overtime for Denver, which solidified his hold on third place in the Western Conference playoff standings.
Denver manager Michael Malone said his team plays “a different kind of basketball, a different brand of basketball” with Murray on the court.
“When Jamal and Nikola play with each other and for each other and for each other, it’s a tough duo to protect,” Malone said.
Earlier in the day, only one game separated Houston, Utah and Oklahoma City from fourth to sixth in the Western Conference.
An official review confirmed that Jokic led the baseline for a layup before the remaining 3.4 seconds expired in the first half overtime, forcing the second overtime. The clock did not start on the game.
Mitchell overcame Denver’s defensive failures for an undisputed tying layup with less than 1 second remaining in regulation.
TIP INS
Jazz: Led by Jordan Clarkson, Utah made 12 of 21 triples in the first half and 22 for the game. Clarkson made four out of six 3 in the half and finished 5 out of 9. The Jazz led 63-49 at half time. … Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. had 23 points and 11 rebounds. Jerami Grant had 21 points. … Jokic, who only had two points in the first half, had 14 in the third quarter. He had 11 rebounds.
REGRETS
Mitchell’s jumper gave Utah a 119-117 lead with 3.4 seconds remaining in the first half overtime. He said he shouldn’t have allowed time for Jokic’s basket.
“This is really the only reason I’m angry because I should know,” Mitchell said. “This is a mental mistake on my part. I feel like I do, hitting the same blow, they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do it, so it’s on me.”
NEXT
Jazz: Play the Mavericks on Monday.
Nuggets: Play with the Lakers on Monday.
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