Jamal Murray Reacts To Nuggets Game 3 vs Lakers | May 20, 2023

Is this the last one? Who wants questions? Right here. Take these two first. Jamal, is it possible that fourth quarter last game you had 23 points, is it possible to carry momentum over into another game? Does that work for you? No, I just thought we as a team had the right mindset going in. We knew the crowd was going to be into it and they were. I thought we did a good job of just hitting first on the road especially and keeping that up even when they made their run and they came back I think it was like 71-71. But we were even in the quarter and once we realized that even when we weren't playing our best we just got to buckle down and do the same thing we were doing the first half. Jamal, can you talk about the team's defensive effort tonight and over the last two games? Yeah, it's been good. I think we've just been on a string. We're on the same page with what we're doing even when we mix it up in timeouts and adjustments game to game. Everybody's on the same page. When we mess up we don't get too down. I think that's the biggest thing is next possession and get back to it. You can't hang your head in the playoffs and we're doing a good job of just trucking along and getting back on the same page like I said. Hey Jamal, Malone was just in here talking about how late in the fourth Joker kind of took over the huddles a little bit, was calling out plays, was saying that you and him were going to play a two man game, clear the side of the floor for that. Can you kind of take us inside those huddles and what was just the communication like between him and the team and all you guys at that point? We were up at the time and we just wanted to not rush anything. We know that once we have space we can find out different holes and seams and gaps in the defense. I just think we did a good job just taking our time. We didn't rush anything and I think we made a good play every time out of it. No rush was the biggest thing and no turnovers and we did a good job of just executing and Yoke did a great job of clearly in English speaking to the team in the huddle about where everybody should be and like I said we did a good job executing. This is the farthest you've been obviously since 2020 in this same round against this same team. Is there anything you take from just having been to that spot and also other previous playoff experiences that helps you get either just here and then also forward past it? You can learn things in your wins and you can learn things in your losses. I remember the Lakers were in the bubble. They were a big team. They would do lineups of LeBron, AD, Dwight Howard, Kuz, and then I don't know somebody. Yeah Danny Green. So that was a big line. Even when we got a stop it was tough for us to rebound and I think they were up at the half and rebounding. We just knew this is kind of the same thing. I know we were making shots on the first half but we can't let them get second chance opportunities to that team. We just did a good job of just giving them one shot and like I said being in the paint helping out each other and just being on the string especially on the back line of the defense. Sort of following up on that Jamal your message coming off of the court. The message that continued in the hallway wasn't we got to go win one more. It's that we need to win five more. What's the balance there with the micro task at hand and the joy you have in this versus knowing that there's something else that you're going for? Just keep everybody in the moment. Not letting it slip away. You need 16 wins to win a championship and we got five more to go. The Lakers are in a way and they're going to do everything in their power to come back and fight. They're not going to just lay down and let us beat them on their home floor. We know next game is going to be another test. They're going to come up more aggressive. A.D.'s going to be more aggressive. LeBron's going to be more aggressive. The crowd's going to be more into it. We know what's coming and we just got to stay locked in and know that we can do it. We have full belief in that and like I said we got five more to go. Jamal we don't see Nikola struggle like that very much in the first three quarters and then he also got into foul trouble. Do you feel like this team can find different ways to win games? We got a lot of guys that can come in and impact the game. KCP did a great job. Bruce, I mean everybody that played today did a great job. Ayope didn't even struggle in the first. He just was in foul trouble. He wasn't really getting the ball because I was having it. I think he'll have a stronger start next game. Going back to what that was, what does this say about your team? Giant first half for you. KCP was I thought a monster in the third quarter. Joker comes back in the fourth. What does that say to everybody about your team? We got a lot of insults. We're just a very unselfish team. It may not be your night. It may not be your quarter. I thought Aaron has done a great job all playoffs just finding his matchups and guarding. Getting back in transition. Being at the rim. Being big. Bruce steps up. Everybody realizes when we need something. We need a spark. It could be Joker. It could be me. It could be Bruce. Jeff off the bench. Whether it's a chase down block or a charge or something. Everybody has something that they can come and impact the game with. I just thought tonight was another example of everybody stepping up in the right way. Last question on the right. Jamal, what is the biggest difference in your game between the bubble and this series? I'm healthy. That's it. I see the game a little slower I think. Not as rushed. I'd probably say I take my time a little more. Even just a couple more dribbles just to not turn it over or put somebody else in a bad spot if I pass it. I'd say just slowing the game down and also get to watch the game from afar for a couple of seasons or a season and two post seasons. I'm watching a lot of film and picking my spots from there. I thought you had one. No, we're good. Thanks Jamal.