Jamal Murray wasn’t going to let illness stop him from suiting up for the most important game of the season. Despite being sick for the previous 24 hours, the Denver Nuggets guard made it clear there was never any doubt about his status.
“Absolutely not,” Murray said when asked if sitting out Game 6 was ever a consideration.
Murray delivered when it mattered most, scoring 25 points to lead the Nuggets to a 119-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. The win forces a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series, which will take place Sunday in Oklahoma City.
Murray wasted no time making an impact, opening the game with a four-point play and later hitting a crucial step-back three to begin the fourth quarter, giving Denver a double-digit cushion. While Nikola Jokic led all scorers with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, it was the supporting cast that made the difference.
Christian Braun contributed a career playoff-high 23 points, and second-year guard Julian Strawther came off the bench to score 15—all in the second half. Strawther ignited Denver’s game-changing run in the third quarter, hitting a pair of three-pointers and a layup during a 10-0 burst that swung the momentum.
“Julian played huge for us, made real big shots,” said forward Aaron Gordon. “I don’t think that’s something they game-planned for.”
Strawther’s contributions didn’t stop there. He continued to make plays on both ends of the court in the fourth quarter, helping the Nuggets finally gain breathing room in a physical and exhausting series. In a bizarre moment that highlighted the intensity, Strawther even lost a dental crown during the fourth quarter, which a ballboy had to retrieve from the court.
Denver did have one concern late in the game as Gordon appeared to tweak his hamstring, but he assured reporters afterward he would be ready for Game 7.
“If he’s good to go, that would be a huge relief,” said Nuggets interim coach David Adelman. “He’s the reason why we’ve won games and won series and have a banner hanging up.”
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 32 points, but Oklahoma City struggled to generate consistent offense behind him. All-Star forward Jalen Williams had one of his worst performances of the postseason, finishing with just six points on 3-of-16 shooting.
The Thunder, seeking their first trip to the Western Conference Finals since 2016, now face their biggest test yet. Despite losing consecutive games only twice all season, they’re now in their first elimination game with this young core.
“Credit to Denver — they threw a punch tonight,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “Both teams have been exchanging blows all series. We need to stand back up on Sunday.”
For Denver, the victory provides a much-needed breather. After playing every other day since April 29, the defending champs will get a full two days off before Sunday’s finale. According to Adelman, that alone was enough to lift spirits.
“The guys in there looked like they were happier to have tomorrow off than they were about going to a Game 7,” he joked.
With a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line, both teams will regroup and prepare for a winner-take-all showdown on Sunday. The Minnesota Timberwolves await after eliminating the Golden State Warriors in five games.
