As the first-round series between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz heads into a decisive seventh game, the legend of Jamal Murray continues to grow.
It began in Game 4, where Murray’s 50 points (on 18-for-31 shooting), 11 rebounds, and seven assists weren’t enough to get Denver over the hump as it suffered a two-point loss to fall down 3-1 in the series.
After what could have been a demoralising blow, Game 5 saw Murray respond the only way he knew how.
In his postgame interview, Murray said that after falling down 3-1, he reflected on how he had never been in that position and would do anything for his to not be eliminated. This, of course, was after he recorded 42 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the 10-point Game 5 win that allowed the Nuggets to fight another day, extending the series to a sixth game.
Game 6 was an even more impressive performance, as Murray would again go for 50 points (on 17-for-24 shooting) in a win, fuelling Denver to force a decisive Game 7 against Utah.
His powerful comments post-game were a reminder of who Jamal Murray is as a player, but more importantly as a young man.
Before even getting into what Game 7 means for Murray and the Nuggets, just take a moment to appreciate how historic the 23-year-old has been in this series.
Averaging 34.0 points, 6.7 assists, 6.2 rebounds on .585/.574/.913 shooting splits through six games
Joined Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan and Donovan Mitchell (this series) as the only players with multiple 50-point games in one playoff series (per StatMuse)
First player since Jordan in 1993 to post three-straight 40-point games in a postseason series (per ESPN Stats & Info)
11 points shy of having a top-five scoring performance in the opening round of the playoffs. (StatHead)
Now, after his scoring 142 points over a three-game span, two questions surround Murray: Does he have anything left in the tank? And can he shoulder Denver’s offensive load one more time in this series to complete the comeback from down 3-1?
Murray’s message after leading his team to force a Game 7 was simple: “They believe in me, I believe in them and we’re trying to be this 12th team to come back from down 3-1.”
Fear not, as a look into Murray’s past would suggest that the big stage is where his star shines the brightest.
Jordan Brand Classic
April 13, 2013
At 16, Murray traveled to Brooklyn, NY to take part in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game.
Murray, who was not exactly a well-known prospect at the time, made a name for himself by scoring a game-high 24 points, 16 of which came in the second half to earn MVP honours in the game.
To some, it might seem like an exhibition with not much consequence but for many, the impression that Murray made in that game was the first glimpse at his never-back-down mentality and desire to make a name for himself.
The 18-year-old Murray led the way for the World Select Team, scoring 10 of his game-high 30 points int he fourth quarter to propel the squad to a 103-101 victory over the USA Junior National Select Team.
Like we’ve grown accustomed to seeing by now, Murray calmly made big plays at the most important juncture of a close game.
This performance put him in conversation to represent his country a few months later at…
The Pan Am Games
July 24, 2015
As The Toronto Star’s Doug Smith penned over five years ago, “A lot of people are going to say a lot of wonderful things about Jamal Murray as his basketball career unfolds, but none may resonate as much as the ones being spoken in the bowels of the Ryerson Athletic Centre on Friday night.”
Prior to stepping foot on a college campus, an 18-year-old Murray represented Canada as a member of the Senior Men’s National Team at the 2015 Pan Am Games.
That he was selected to play with the team says something but he wasn’t just along for the ride, he was there to make an impact.
In the semifinal round of the tournament, Murray stepped up in a major way, finishing with 22 points after going scoreless in the first three quarters. The most impressive buckets were his two triples in an overtime period that lifted Canada to a 111-108 win over the United States.
At 18.
As two-time MVP Steve Nash, who was in attendance said of Murray, “He’s a special, special kid… he’s not afraid of the moment. He embraces the moment and that’s why he’s very, very special.”
Murray hadn’t even become a full-time starter with the Nuggets just yet but made his presence felt in this one.
It might have been a midseason exhibition, but Murray was clearly on a different level than the rest of his peers, scoring a game-high 36 points and dishing out a game-high 11 assists in a 150-141 win for the World Team.
His performance earned him MVP honours in a game that also featured Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Brandon Ingram, and Nikola Jokic.
2019 NBA Playoffs
After falling one win shy of a postseason appearance in 2018, Murray and the Nuggets made the leap to becoming the West’s No. 2 seed in 2019.
It was the playoff debut for a 22-year-old Murray.
In just his second-ever postseason game, Murray scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets complete a late rally over the San Antonio Spurs to even things up in the first round. After the game, he remarked that “the fourth quarter is where players are made.”
It was a postseason of ups and downs for Murray, who performed significantly better in Denver’s wins than in its losses.
The Nuggets’ postseason came to an end after a gutting Game 7 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, a game in which Murray scored 17 points on just 4-for-18 (22.2%) shooting.
Now, over a year later, Murray has an opportunity to atone for last year’s letdown as he looks to continue his historic tear for the Nuggets to join the 11 other teams that have come back from a 3-1 deficit.
Lucky for Denver, its young star has a history of shining bright on the big stage.
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CALGARY – Rookie Samuel Honzek continued his scoring tear on Monday with a brilliant short-handed effort as the Calgary Flames beat the Seattle Kraken 4-3 in overtime.
The 19-year-old Slovak, who was the Flames’ first-round pick, 16th overall in 2023, sits alone atop the NHL’s pre-season scoring leaders with seven points (including two goals) in five games.
Brayden Pachal, Blake Coleman, and Nazem Kadri — with the game-winner on a slick setup from Andrei Kuzmenko — also scored for Calgary (5-0-1), which has yet to lose in regulation.
Eeli Tolvanen, Ville Ottavainen and Shane Wright replied for Seattle (1-3-1).
In his first full game after playing two periods in each of his first two starts, Dan Vladar — coming off off-season hip surgery — made 30 saves for the win.
At the other end, Joey Daccord made 23 stops for the Kraken.
Tied 2-2 after the first period, Seattle had multiple chances to take the lead early in the second when Calgary took four penalties in the first six minutes.
But not only did the Flames kill off the extended power play time for the visitors that included a pair of two-man advantages, Honzek ignited the home crowd with his highlight-reel goal at 6:33.
Sprung on a 1-on-1 by Yegor Sharangovich’s breakout pass, Honzek skated down the right wing through the neutral zone and into the Seattle end where he used his 6-foot-4 frame to power his way around defenceman Vince Dunn, then as he cut across the front of the net, he neatly eluded Daccord’s poke check before tucking the puck in while falling to the ice.
Honzek, who turns 20 on Nov. 12, played last season with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants where injuries limited him to just 33 games in which he had 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists).
After taking the lead, the penalty barrage in the second continued for the home side with Blake Coleman’s penalty with seven seconds left — Calgary’s sixth minor of the period — finally costing them with Wright scoring 39 seconds into the third to tie it 3-3.
Seattle opened the scoring 3:18 into the game when Rasmus Andersson’s turnover was grabbed by Chandler Stephenson, who promptly sent a backhand pass into the slot that was buried by Tolvanen.
After Calgary surged in front on goals less than four minutes apart by Pachal and Coleman, the visitors tied it with 15 seconds remaining in the period when Ottavainen’s long slapshot eluded Vladar.
BARRIE BATTLING
Picking up a pair of assists for the Flames with secondary helpers on both first period goals was defenceman Tyson Barrie, who is in Flames’ camp on a professional tryout. The 33-year-old has three assists in three games. Barrie has played 809 career NHL games and should he sign with Calgary, would join his fifth NHL organization. He played last season for Nashville.
UP NEXT
Kraken: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
Flames: Visit the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2024.
EDMONTON – It may have been a victory, but the Edmonton Oilers feel they are still very much a work in progress.
Leon Draisaitl scored the shootout winner on a slapshot as the Oilers won their second straight pre-season game, defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Monday.
Corey Perry and Ben Gleason also scored for the Oilers, who improved to 3-3 in NHL exhibition action.
“We just wanted to get our battle level up a little bit,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who registered a pair of assists on the night. “I think everybody has another level that they can get to. Hopefully we will get there this week.
“We haven’t played much with our group. To get some rhythm and some camaraderie, all that stuff is important.”
A lot of the focus was on getting the first look of the new potentially powerhouse second line of Draisaitl, Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.
“They are just getting used to each other right now,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “They had some good chances, probably not as many as you would expect in a game like tonight. But it was a good first step.”
Arshdeep Bains and Nate Smith replied for the Canucks (2-2-1), who have lost three in a row.
“It’s not about the win or loss, the group really did a great job,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, whose team dressed the less experienced lineup. “I’m really proud of the way they played. I just like the way that they stuck with it. That is a good hockey club over there, and I think we did a nice job.”
There was no scoring in a rather relaxed first period, with Edmonton putting eight shots on Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen and Vancouver responding with seven on Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner.
Vancouver broke the deadlock six minutes into the second period on the power play as Kiefer Sherwood made a nice pass from the side of the net out to Bains, who unleashed a bullet before Skinner could get across.
Edmonton almost responded a few minutes later as Perry was sent in alone, but he was unable to deke his way past Lankinen.
The Canucks led 16-15 on the shot clock through 40 minutes.
The Oilers tied the game four minutes into the third period as Perry swept out in front of the net and made a nice move and got the puck behind Lankinen this time.
Edmonton surged ahead on the power play midway through the third as McDavid sent it back to Gleason who sent a hard wrist shot into the net with Arvidsson providing a screen in front.
However, Vancouver answered back just 19 seconds later as Smith deftly redirected a Kirill Kudryavtsev shot through Skinner’s legs, eventually sending the game to extra time.
Vancouver had a wide-open net to shoot for late in overtime, but Draisaitl lifted Daniel Sprong’s stick at the last second.
NOTES
It was the first meeting between the two teams since the Oilers defeated the Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series in May … Edmonton released veteran forward Mike Hoffman from a PTO on Monday, and the Canucks did likewise with PTO invite Sammy Blais … The Oilers are down to 36 players (five injured) in camp and are hoping to trim to 27 players before the team’s final two pre-season games. Defenceman Darnell Nurse is expected to be back for one of the two final tilts, and backup goalie Calvin Pickard is expected to return to the ice in a few days after taking a hit to the head on Saturday against Seattle … Vancouver star forward J.T. Miller has skated all camp, but has yet to suit up for a game, while defenceman Quinn Hughes has played just one.
UP NEXT
Canucks: Host the Oilers on Friday.
Oilers: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2024.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have hired former All-Star catcher Buster Posey as president of baseball operations and fired Farhan Zaidi.
Team chairman Greg Johnson made the announcement Monday after the Giants finished 80-82 in manager Bob Melvin’s first season — with one more victory than in 2023. San Francisco hasn’t reached the playoffs since winning the NL West in 2021.
The 37-year-old Posey joined the club’s ownership group in September 2022, less than a year after his retirement in November 2021.
“As we look ahead, I’m excited to share that Buster Posey will now take on a greater role as the new president of baseball operations,” Johnson said in a statement. “We are looking for someone who can define, direct and lead this franchise’s baseball philosophy and we feel that Buster is the perfect fit. Buster has the demeanor, intelligence and drive to do this job, and we are confident that he and Bob Melvin will work together to bring back winning baseball to San Francisco.”
Posey was a seven-time All-Star with a career .302 batting average. The 2012 NL MVP was selected fifth overall by San Francisco in the 2008 amateur draft out of Florida State.
His former manager, Bruce Bochy, now guiding the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers, is confident Posey will succeed.
“I’m excited for Buster. He has such a great feel for the game,” Bochy said via text message. “He did a great job leading on the field, so sure he will excel in this leadership role.”
Posey and wife Kristen moved their family back to the East Bay suburb of Lafayette last year after a stint living in their native Georgia immediately following his retirement. He called it a career after the Giants’ franchise-record 107-win season in 2021. Posey opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
Zaidi was hired away from the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in November 2018.
“We appreciate Farhan’s commitment to the organization and his passion for making an impact in our community during his six years with the Giants,” Johnson said. “Ultimately, the results have not been what we had hoped, and while that responsibility is shared by all of us, we have decided that a change is necessary.”
Johnson, Posey and Melvin were set to address the media on Tuesday at Oracle Park.
It was unclear which candidates from underrepresented groups were considered by the Giants, as required by Major League Baseball.
“We are also fully committed to following the Selig Rule and ensuring diversity in our hiring for any of our open positions,” Johnson said.
