Jamal Murray Powers Nuggets, Supports Nikola Jokic in Injury Return

 DENVER — Jamal Murray is back, and so is the potent two-star dynamic between him and Nikola Jokic, just in time for the playoffs.

Murray scored 15 points in his return Friday night after missing six games due to a sprained ankle. His key shots in the fourth quarter helped the Denver Nuggets rally past the Memphis Grizzlies 117-109.

Jokic also made history with his 34th triple-double of the season, becoming just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for the season. He joins Russell Westbrook and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in that exclusive club.

With Murray back, Jokic seemed much more at ease on the court.

"It was clear he was exhausted," said interim coach David Adelman. "Jamal has this interesting trait—when things get tougher and he gets more tired, he actually plays better. Watching them run the two-man game at the end was incredible. I’d pay to watch that. They take their time, make smart plays, and don’t force anything. The unselfishness from the other guys to get out of the way is crucial. It's a beautiful, historical thing to watch. When the game gets intense, those two stay cool."

The Nuggets finished the game with a 14-1 run, with Adelman praising their defensive effort. "One point in the last six minutes is remarkable. It looked like us, the team we’ve been for a while—winning big games with a strong understanding of how to close them out."

Murray contributed a couple of baskets during the final stretch, finishing 5-of-12 from the field. Jokic, meanwhile, scored eight of his 26 points in the final six minutes of dominance.

Murray reflected on his return: "I was just trying to shoot myself into rhythm after missing six games. It’s enough to throw off your flow a bit. It felt good to see the ball go in, but the team's energy and urgency were what mattered most. Everyone stepped up because there was something on the line."

Murray played 32 minutes, adding seven assists and five rebounds. His last game had been on March 26 against the Milwaukee Bucks. During his absence, the Nuggets lost four straight games, a stretch that led to the firings of coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.

Denver snapped that losing streak with a 124-116 victory over Sacramento on Wednesday and is now 2-0 under Adelman. They finish the regular season Sunday at Houston.

Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, is hopeful the timing of the dismissals will ignite the Nuggets heading into the playoffs.

"If that doesn’t get you fired up, something's wrong with you," Murray said.

Murray, who shared a strong bond with the fired Malone, added, "Coach always had my back since I was a kid coming into the league. He believed in me, kept me positive, and helped me grow. We don’t get here without him. It stinks to see him go like this, especially at this point, but we’ll stay in touch."