Nikola Jokic on Jamal Murray's first home game in 18 months: 'He didn't suck' / News - Basketnews.com

Jamal Murray played his first home game in more than 18 months following the ACL tear and scored 16 points.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix

On the night the Denver Nuggets celebrated Nikola Jokic tying Wilt Chamberlain with his historic 78th triple-double, it was Jamal Murray who got the strongest hugs from his coach and the biggest ovations from the sellout crowd of 19,983 fans.

Player of the Game EFF 38 Nikola Jokic Points 19 Accuracy 6-10 Rebounds 16 Assists 13

''It's been a minute since I got to feel that,'' Murray said after scoring 16 points in Denver's 122-117 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, in his first home game in more than 18 months.

Murray missed the entire last season with a torn left ACL he sustained in San Francisco in April 2021.

The Canadian combo guard sat out Denver's big win at Golden State on Friday night in San Francisco because the Nuggets don't want him playing back-to-back nights early on.

After a sloppy return in Denver's season-opening loss at Utah on Wednesday night, Murray started to look like his old self by the third quarter Saturday night.

''Once he found his rhythm, we started seeing flashes of old Jamal,'' coach Mike Malone said, ''the fadeaways, the step-backs, creating separation and tough shots, the two-man game between him and Nikola. And that is so much fun to watch.''

Jokic is enjoying his pick-and-roll partner's return, too.

''He didn't suck," the two-time NBA MVP said in a funny manner. "Jamal is trying to get back in a rhythm. To be honest, today he looked really good to me. He was getting by the guys, he was shooting step-back jumpers, and controlling the game. So, he did a really good job.''

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