Jamal Murray is off to hot start he envisioned, and Nuggets have exorcised Minnesota demon

In an NBA game between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jamal Murray faced a Chick-fil-A promotion where home fans could win free chicken sandwiches if a visiting player missed both free throws in the fourth quarter. After Murray missed his first attempt, the crowd grew loud, but he made the second free throw and celebrated with a finger-wag gesture, reminiscent of Mutombo, silencing the Minnesota fans.

Murray delivered a standout performance, scoring 43 points to lead the Nuggets to a 127-114 road victory. He has averaged 30.3 points per game in the first week of the season, and his presence on the court was crucial, as the Nugouts outscored the Timberwolves by 30 points when he played but were outscored by 17 points when he was off the floor.

The win was significant as the Nuggets had lost six consecutive meaningful games to the Timberwolves, dating back to the 2024 playoffs, including a Game 7 collapse and a double-overtime loss. Despite the absence of Timberwolves' key player Anthony Edwards due to a hamstring injury, the game remained challenging due to the intense rivalry between the teams.

After the game, Murray downplayed his role, stating that he wasn't forcing shots and credited his teammates for their support, including setting good screens and being engaged, which made his job easier. He emphasized the team's collective effort in securing the win.