Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets suffered a 125-93 blowout loss in the Game 7 Western Conference semifinal road clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, May 18. Afterward, Murray appeared to deliver a message of encouragement to his Team Canada teammate, Thunder superstar point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jamal Murray Backs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander After Nuggets’ Game 7 Loss
Following the Nuggets’ Game 7 defeat, Murray, who managed 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting (37.5%), embraced Gilgeous-Alexander. The two, who played together for Team Canada as recently as the 2024 Summer Olympics, were seen smiling and laughing.
During their interaction, Murray appeared to urge the MVP frontrunner to lead the Thunder to an NBA championship for his birthplace of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.
“Bring it home. Bring it home for The Six [Toronto],” Murray seemingly said.
Jamal Murray to Shai after the game-
“Bring it home. Bring it home for the 6ix.”
Canadians showing love🇨🇦♥️ pic.twitter.com/j0j4fg1RAw
— 𝘿𝙐𝙁𝙁𝘼𝙇𝙊 (@Duffal0)
OKC will host the sixth-seeded, Anthony Edwards-led Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) in the West finals. Despite finishing the regular season with 19 more wins than Minnesota, the Thunder split their season series with the Timberwolves 2-2.
Minnesota is 8-2 in the playoffs, coming off a comfortable five-game second-round series victory over the undermanned, seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors (48-34). Meanwhile, OKC is 8-3, with all three of its postseason losses coming against Denver.
Murray Stays Optimistic After Game 7 Loss to Thunder
Denver came out strong in the do-or-die contest, taking an 11-point first-quarter lead. However, OKC assumed control in the second quarter behind a 39-20 advantage, taking a 60-46 lead into halftime. The Thunder fired on all cylinders from then on, led by Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-high 35-point performance.
After leading by as many as 43 points, the upstart No. 1-seeded squad (68-14) coasted to a decisive home victory. In doing so, the franchise secured its first conference finals berth since 2016 and is now favored to go all the way.
While Murray appeared dispirited during Sunday’s postgame interview, he did his best to keep his head up, underscoring the positives of Denver’s playoff run.
“We played 14 games and came up short in the last one,” Murray said. “I’m frustrated and everything, but you know, there’s a lot to take away from the last six, seven weeks or so. Just gotta keep my head, stay positive, and look forward to the next couple months of taking some rest and then getting back to it.”
Jamal Murray after the Game 7 loss against OKC:
"…I'm frustrated and everything, but you know there's a lot to take away from the last six seven weeks or so…"#9sports pic.twitter.com/AClxILlgTv
— 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports)
Murray added that the fourth-seeded Nuggets’ (50-32) core, headlined by superstar center Nikola Jokić, can “100%” win another title following two straight second-round exits.
Denver has a critical offseason ahead, as it needs to hire a new general manager and full-time coach after being guided by interim coach David Adelman this postseason. The organization will presumably look to add depth around Jokić, Murray, and the rest of its starters after getting outmatched by OKC’s roster balance in Round 2.
