The Denver Nuggets were one free throw away from forcing overtime Thursday night. Instead, they left Intuit Dome with a 115-114 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Of course, a wave of criticism from the NBA internet was bound to hit Jamal Murray as he “choked” in a crucial moment once again.
The Wall Holds Its Magic Over Jamal Murray
With Denver trailing 115-112 against the Los Angeles Clippers, Murray was fouled on a three-point attempt with 0.9 seconds left. He calmly knocked down the first two free throws.
The third? It rimmed out. And the miss? It immediately went viral.
A major focus of the reaction was “The Wall,” the Clippers’ steep, unified supporters’ section behind the basket. Multiple fans framed the miss not just as a player mistake, but as proof that the arena design is doing exactly what it was built to do.
Phrases like “Murray vs. The Wall” from NBA journalists and even “The Wall won a game” circulated widely.
Jamal Murray vs. the Wall… misses the last of 3 free throws for the tie and the Clippers hold on to win. pic.twitter.com/nFuWFgi1Gx
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 20, 2026
The Wall vs. Jamal Murray for game. pic.twitter.com/4dJorB4jJd
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) February 20, 2026
The reactions re-instilled the belief that in a crucial game, the arena’s environment can play a major role in the overall outcome.
Murray vs The Wall. He makes the first two free throws. Misses the third. #Nuggets fall 115-114. Just have not been able to finish late this season. Denver missed 5 free throws in fourth. That will leave a mark. Gordon and Watson can’t return soon enough
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) February 20, 2026
Others zoomed in on the psychological battle at the stripe. Cameras caught Bennedict Mathurin appearing to talk as Murray was on the line. That visual quickly fueled the narrative that “Mathurin got in his head.”
Mathurin got in Jamal Murray’s head 😭 pic.twitter.com/XSTHqEbE4D
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) February 20, 2026
Whether it truly affected Murray is impossible to prove, but Mathurin’s 38-point performance, including 12-of-13 from the free-throw line, only amplified that contrast in the eyes of viewers.
And then there was the harsher side of the internet.
Some reactions revived a familiar criticism, labeling the moment another late-game “choke.” The frustration wasn’t solely about one miss. For many, it was a repeated error.
Jamal Murray CHOKED at the line again in the clutch.
— Witness King James (@WITNESSKJ) February 20, 2026
Others also blamed the Nuggets for choosing the Wall section for the second half. As per The Athletic’s NBA analyst Law Murray, the Wall clearly won the game.
I can’t believe the Denver Nuggets chose @ClippersWall for 2nd half.
The Wall won a game.
Denver missed FIVE 4th quarter free throws, including Jamal Murray’s game-tying attempt with less than a second left.
— Law Murray 🏴☠️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) February 20, 2026
Blames kept shifting. While some praised the Clippers’ home-court setup and Mathurin’s gamesmanship, others questioned Murray’s performance in clutch situations. All it took was one missed free throw.
Jamal Murray at the line to force overtime…
Misses the game-tying free throw.
Clippers win.pic.twitter.com/G6AwR3YbFN
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) February 20, 2026
Fans’ Frustration Goes High As Murray Misses Another Crucial Free Throw
Missing tonight’s free throw wasn’t an isolated incident. The frustration fans hold right now stems partly from history.
In a 109-107 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 27, 2026, Murray also missed crucial free throws in the final seconds. Fouled on separate three-point attempts with under five seconds left, he failed to convert key shots that could have tied or won that game. Afterward, he took responsibility. This makes Thursday’s miss feel heavier.
And it wasn’t just Murray who was to blame for the loss. Denver was riddled with missed free throws and committed 17 turnovers.
Nikola Jokić posted 22 points and 17 rebounds but struggled with efficiency, while Kawhi Leonard added 23 for Los Angeles.
Still, late-game execution remains a theme for Denver. And when a game comes down to one shot, especially in front of a roaring supporters section soon after the All-Star weekend, the spotlight naturally tightens.
Whether it was pressure, distraction, or simply a miss, the internet had its verdict within minutes.
