Jamal Murray Drops 52 as Nuggets Beat Pacers/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jamal Murray exploded for 52 points on hyper-efficient shooting to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Indiana Pacers, 135-120. Just days after spraining his ankle, Murray hit 10 of 11 threes in a dominant performance. Denver continues to showcase elite scoring with another 50-point night.
Murray’s 52-Point Game Quick Looks
- Jamal Murray scores season-high 52 points in win
- Shot 76% from field, 91% from 3-point range
- Made 10 of 11 three-point attempts
- Played two nights after spraining his ankle
- Nuggets defeat defending East champs, 135-120
- Murray adds 6 rebounds, 4 assists to stat line
- Commissioner Adam Silver watches performance courtside
- Denver continues 50-point scoring trend this season
Deep Look:
Jamal Murray Explodes for 52 Points as Nuggets Down Pacers 135-120 in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — Just two nights after spraining his right ankle, Jamal Murray delivered a jaw-dropping 52-point performance Wednesday to lift the Denver Nuggets past the Indiana Pacers, 135-120. His ultra-efficient night — hitting 19 of 25 shots and 10 of 11 from three-point range — put him in elite NBA territory as he led the league’s highest-scoring team to another statement victory.
Originally listed as questionable before tip-off, Murray showed no signs of hesitation, pain, or rust. Instead, he delivered one of the most efficient scoring performances the league has seen this season — all in front of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who was in attendance.
“Keep shooting,” Murray said afterward. “You’ve been doing this so long, there’s no need to overthink it. Just play, have fun — that’s what I was doing.”
Efficiency, Confidence, and Rhythm
From deep threes to midrange jumpers to aggressive drives into the paint, Murray’s shot chart looked more like a highlight reel than a stat sheet. At one point, he even paused mid-game to sign an autograph for a fan — a rare in-game moment that underscored just how in control and relaxed he felt on the floor.
“He was on fire,” said teammate Bruce Brown, who recently rejoined the Nuggets after a championship run with them. “I just thought, give him the ball and get out of the way. Go stand in the corner, and if he needs me, I’ll be open — but I’m giving it right back to him.”
Even Murray’s rare miss had a touch of luck. A shot that clanked off the front of the rim bounced high, paused on the back iron, and then dropped gently through the net — a metaphor for the kind of night he was having.
He finished the night just three points shy of his career-high 55 points, a mark he set in Portland back in February. Despite falling short of that personal best, this latest performance further solidified his place as one of the most dynamic scorers in the league when healthy.
Denver’s Season of Scorers
Murray’s 52-point outing continues a remarkable scoring trend for the Denver Nuggets this season. Aaron Gordon kicked things off with a 50-point game in the season opener. Nikola Jokić, the two-time MVP, followed with 55 in a dominant November performance against the Clippers. Now, Murray joins the high-scoring club as Denver pushes to remain among the Western Conference elite.
Though the Nuggets came up just one point shy of their season-high 136 points — scored in a loss to San Antonio on November 28 — Wednesday’s win showed a much more complete performance.
Murray credits defense as the deciding factor.
“For me, the defense fuels the offense,” he said. “When we’re in half court, we execute well — we move the ball, we’re unselfish, and we knock down shots. But when we’re playing defense, we’re stopping the other team and building momentum.”
More Than Just Scoring
In addition to his 52 points, Murray added six rebounds and four assists, doing damage across the stat sheet while clearly playing through lingering discomfort from his ankle injury.
Head coach David Adelman had initially planned to evaluate Murray during pregame warmups before clearing him to play, but Murray himself was never in doubt.
“It felt pretty good, honestly,” Murray said. “We did a lot of treatment going into the game. Maybe a little sore at the end of the first quarter, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
The Nuggets didn’t just rely on Murray, though he led the way. Nikola Jokić added a balanced game of his own, Aaron Gordon provided energy on both ends, and Denver’s ball movement helped them build a 29-point lead before Indiana cut it to single digits late in the game.
The Pacers never fully recovered, though, and Denver’s poise — led by Murray’s steady hand — ensured the victory was never seriously threatened.
Another Statement Win
With another 50-point game from a different star, Denver is proving that its offensive firepower runs deep. More importantly, the win over the defending Eastern Conference champions sends a message: the Nuggets are not just built around one superstar — they have multiple weapons capable of taking over games.
And if Jamal Murray continues to play at this level, even on a sore ankle, the rest of the league has every reason to worry.
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