Jamal Murray has traditionally saved his best for the postseason, but in the year he earned his first All-Star selection, the Nuggets guard decided the regular season deserved the same treatment. Facing Washington on January 17, 2026, Murray caught Alex Sarr flat-footed on a jab step and rose into a stepback three to beat the halftime buzzer, setting the tone for what was coming. By the fourth quarter, he was operating on a different frequency entirely, catching the ball at the elbow and spinning into a turnaround jumper that kissed nothing but net off the back foot, then denies an Aaron Gordon screen to shake free and drain another triple with the kind of ease that only arrives when every shot feels small. The NBA champion tallied 42 points in the six-point home victory. · Jan 18, 2026