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Nuggets locker room: Game 7 hunger forces Jamal Murray to make the ultimate sacrifice, but Coach Malone demands more

Nuggets locker room: Game 7 hunger forces Jamal Murray to make the ultimate sacrifice, but Coach Malone demands more

With rumors surrounding Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray missing from Game 7, a surprising update from Nuggets camp has left fans perplexed. In the last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Murray injured his elbow. This led to speculation that the Nuggets star might not play in the next game. However, a Denver Post insider revealed that he’s the one who practices more than any other player on the team. According to the source, he was working on improving his floats.

But that’s not the only thing that was special about Murray. Nuggets coach Michael Malone also noticed a change in the guard while speaking to the Denver Post: “It looked like he hadn’t eaten in two days. …I hope he doesn’t eat until tomorrow at 6 p.m.» Before Saturday’s showdown with the Wolves, coach Malone referred to Jamal Murray’s thirst for victory. Although Malone seems to appreciate the goaltender’s dedication, he expects Game 7 from him.

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Despite all the promising practice moves Murray is showing, he may not play in the next game. In Game 6 against the Timberwolves, he attempted to pass Rudy Gobert’s screen. However, while attempting to do so, the Nuggets guard injured his elbow. Apparently, he couldn’t cross the 10-point mark in the last game. However, it is the sheer will to win that is fueling Murray right now. Nuggets star hopes to get it”RIGHT» for the good of his team during match 7.

What else do the Nuggets need besides Jamal Murray to punch their ticket to the Finals?

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The main problem the Nuggets faced against the Timberwolves was their inefficiency in scoring. Usually, the sharp offensive roster the team acquires is enough to scare opponents. However, for the Wolves, no one showed a significant performance from MVP holders Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Although Jamal Murray can also perform well, his injuries have restricted his movement in the postseason. This ultimately affected his playoff scoring.

USA Today via Reuters

Additionally, another issue the Nuggets have to worry about is their defense. Justin Holiday, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr. did not deliver an impactful performance. The Wolves defense stopped them most of the time when trying to score on the hoops. Caldwell-Pope actually seems effective in the same games, but the inconsistency is still there.

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Overall, the elite offense the Nuggets are famous for crumbles against the Timberwolves. The only option for them to pose a strong challenge to Edwards and Co. and secure their place in the final is to play as a team. A cumulative effort from the entire offense can take the Denver Nuggets further into the playoffs. However, Jamal Murray is an important part of all of this, and his team can’t afford to miss him in the next game.