Jamal Murray gave the Nuggets a lifeline in the final second Thursday night. He couldn’t finish it.
With Denver down three in the closing moments, Murray drew a foul on a three-point attempt and stepped to the stripe with 0.9 seconds left. He buried the first two free throws, then missed the third — the would-be game-tying shot — as time expired, sealing a 115-114 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Murray’s line was solid — 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists — but the ending will be the part everyone remembers. Denver got the exact opportunity it wanted: a veteran closer at the line with a chance to force overtime. The first two swishes pulled the Nuggets within one. The third rimmed out, and the horn followed on the rebound.
The miss didn’t erase what Murray has been doing lately, especially considering he’s been managing a nagging hip issue. In February, he’s been producing at an All-Star level — averaging 24.4 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.1 rebounds — often playing through obvious discomfort.
Denver had chances earlier, too. Nikola Jokić finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, but his four-game triple-double streak snapped in the narrow defeat. The Nuggets couldn’t create enough separation late, and a tense fourth quarter — including a brief flare-up that drew technical fouls — underscored how tight (and physical) the finish became.
On the other side, the Clippers rode a huge night from Bennedict Mathurin, who scored a season-high 38 points in his home debut for Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard added 23, and Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in 22 — including the late foul that put Murray on the line for three.
For Denver, the loss added to a choppy February stretch, with injuries continuing to test the rotation. The Nuggets entered the night 2-5 in the month, dealing with absences that have forced different lineups and late-game combinations. And yet, even shorthanded, they were one free throw away from extending the game.
