Jokic, Murray know they need title to get recognition of other duos

DENVER (AP) —Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray continue to turn in jaw-droppingperformances during these playoffs, raising expectations along theway.

They tookRound 1 of their Western Conference Finals showdown against LeBronJames and Anthony Davis, a game in which Jockic was dazzled by thefortitude of of his Denver Nuggets teammate, who played through apainful ear infection.

“Of coursemaybe he’s just faking it,” theNuggets bigmaninterjected after the Nuggets staved off the LosAngeles Lakers 132-126. “He didn’t want to practice.”

A littlecomedy to go with their chemistry.

Opponentshave found nothing funny about theMurray-Jokiccomboin the playoffs. They are playing their bestbasketball since the 2020 NBA bubble. Seven months after that run,Murray tore his left ACL and had to sit out the last twopostseasons.

Now, Murrayand Jokic are back to showcasing a brand of two-player hoopsreminiscent of the John Stockton-Karl Malone era in Utah. But theyseek what eluded Stockton and Malone.

They’rechasing a championship ring to cement their place in NBA lorealongside Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant andShaquille O’Neal and, yes, LeBron and AD, who combined for 66points in Game 1 Tuesday night.

The Nuggetsare one of six teams never to reach the NBA Finals and they’re 0-7against the Lakers in playoff series. Behind Murray and Jokic, theyfeel they finally have the championship chops to bring the LarryO’Brien Trophy to the Mile High City.

“It seemslike for years now, we’re some dusty old cowtown in the RockyMountains, with so little respect that we get,” said coach MichaelMalone, whose team will try to improve to 8-0 at home in theplayoffs Thursday night. “You can sit there, you can fight it andcomplain about it. Or you can just embrace who we are and what wehave.”

Thatdisrespect didn’t wane even with the Nuggets earning the top seedfor the first time as commentators alternately anointed everyonebut Denver as the favorite to win the West.

For all thosewho tuned in Tuesday and really watched Jokic and Murray for thefirst time they saw what players and coaches around the league say:That was no fluke, they’re just about always that good.

“I’d rathernot waste time with the pundits that count us out and don’t give usthe respect we deserve as a team, with everything we’ve done,”Malone said. “But there’s one thing we haven’t done. And until wewin a championship, people are going to keep saying that about us.So that’s what drives us.”

Denver mayhave already won a championship by now were it not for Murray’sdevastating knee injury at Golden State on April 12, 2021.

He could onlywatch as the Nuggets were routed by Phoenix in the second round ofthe playoffs that year and again by the Warriors in the first roundlast year when their other max player, Michael Porter Jr., also wassidelined.

But thiscould be their best opportunity to date.

With Murrayback healthy and Jokic a matchup nightmare for anyone, they’rerolling along, winning nine of 12 playoff games so far.

“They’re adynamic duo, great symmetry, know each other well,” Lakers coachDarvin Ham said. “Great rhythm, regardless of who’s initiating,who’s screening. ... We have to be ready to really defend that at ahigh level.”

That’s adifficult ask.

“We just haveto make it tough for him, switching up matchups and schemes onhim,” Davis said of Jokic.

Murray wasquestionable for Game 1 due to an ear infection that made for amiserable weekend. But there he was at his best, knocking down adozen shots, including four 3-pointers and dishing out fiveassists.

“The wholeplayoffs, I think he’s playing amazing,” Jokic said. “We all knowwhat he brings, the toughness.”

Jokic, too,filled up the stat sheet. He finished with 34 points, 21 reboundsand 14 assists, giving him 12 career playoff triple-doubles, mostby a center in NBA history.

The Nuggetswill need more performances like this to fend off the Lakers, whobeat them in the Western Conference Finals in 1985, 2009 and2020.

Denver hasmore firepower this time around, too, with a solid supporting cast.It also includes Porter, Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown, rookieChristian Braun, Jeff Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whobrings a championship pedigree to a roster known mostly for itstwo-time MVP.

All of thatwas on display in the Nuggets’ series clincher against Phoenix inRound 2 when Denver bounced the Suns with a 25-point blowout.

“We lookedlike a championship team,” Jokic said afterward. “We were sofocused. ... Well, I guess I don’t know how a championship teamlooks. But I think that was how it’s supposed to look.”

That viewwill become clearer if Jokic and Murray can keep playing likethis.