Nikola Jokic Calls Jamal Murray Nuggets’ Best Player After Game 1 Win Over Suns

• The Denver Nuggets comfortably beat the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of Round 2 of the NBA playoffs
• Jamal Murray scored a game-high 34 points
• Nikola Jokic called Murray Nuggets' best player after his performance

The Denver Nuggets showed why they are the favorites to win the NBA championship.

They produced a dominant performance Game 1 performance against the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the NBA playoffs, winning 125-107. Nikola Jokic called Jamal Murray Nuggets' best player after the dropped a game-high 34 points.

Murray continued with his incredible playoff displays, finishing with 34 points and nine assists. He hit six threes, but his back-to-back threes in the fourth ended the Suns' hope of a comeback.

The Suns cut a 17-point halftime deficit to 10 twice, but Murray and the Nuggets stopped their run.

Russell Westbrook reacts to clutch block on Devin Booker in Game 1

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Murray has made a remarkable return following his ACL injury sustained in April 2021, per Sporting News. He missed all of last season but has shown he is still the same player that averaged 26.5 points the last time he played in the postseason. In 2020, he led the Nuggets to the Western Conference finals in the Orlando bubble.

Jokic on Murray

The 26-year-old has scored at least 34 points in three of his six postseason games. His 35-point performance helped the Nuggets eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves in Round 1.

After the game, Jokic called Murray their best player. Jokic, the MVP of the last two seasons, finished with 24 points and 19 rebounds. He is also a finalist for this season's award.

"He is playing amazing," said Jokic. "He is definitely showing what he is capable of. He is our best player and we are following him right now," via ESPN.

LeBron James credits Lakers' supporting cast for huge Game 1 win

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Murray is not surprised that they were magnificent on Saturday night.

"We know what we're capable of," Murray said. "I don't know why you all [are] asking us like we're surprised [by this showing]. We're confident [in] what we can do and [yet have] to defend ourselves up here like we haven't been playing like this all season...So we're going to keep doing what we're doing -- keep proving everybody wrong and just take it one game at of time."

Nuggets play Game 2 on Monday at the Ball Arena.

Nuggets vs. Suns recap

Sports Brief earlier reported on the Nuggets taking Game 1 against the Suns with a commanding performance.

It wasn’t just Murray and Jokic who punished the Suns’ defense. Aaron Gordon played one of his best playoff games as a Nugget, scoring 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting.   

Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were the other starters to score in double digits for Denver, dropping 11 and 10 points, respectively. Bruce Brown provided the firepower off the bench, scoring 14 points for Denver.