Urged to raise his play by a nationally-televised panel of Hall of Famers before January 14, 2025’s matchup, Jamal Murray attacked the Dallas Mavericks as if the message were received, and he had one to send for himself. In attack mode from the game’s opening tip, Murray’s sizzling start coincided perfectly with a 26-point halftime lead, momentum that allowed the Denver Nuggets to play freely and cruise to a crowd-silencing 19-point road win. Already attempting “heat check”-type shots by the first quarter’s midway point, Murray’s performance could only be described as “playoff-esque,” as he overwhelmed Dallas with crafty, accurate lasers from all three floor levels. Proving his head coach’s declaration correct about the arrival of his offensive heatwaves during the season’s later months, Murray concluded the night with 45 points (on a scorching-hot 18-of-26 shooting), two rebounds, six assists, two steals, and five 3-pointers. In something of a box score anomaly, Murray’s video game-like numbers made him NBA history’s first to record 45 points, with no other player — teammate or opponent — not scoring 15 or more. · Jan 15, 2025