Nuggets' Jamal Murray Blames Struggles on Elbow Injury, Not Anthony Edwards' Defense
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said it wasn't Anthony Edwards' defense that sealed the Nuggets' blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Thursday night's Game 6.
"It was less about [Edwards], it was more about my elbow at that point," Murray told reporters after the game. "Even some passes, my arm... it was more offensively for him. It wasn't him guarding me. He was scoring on the other end, and scoring at a great rate."
Murray was held to 10 points on 4-of-18 shooting while being regularly matched up with Edwards in the 115-70 loss.
Edwards meanwhile scored a game-high 27 points to help the Timberwolves tie the Western Conference semifinals at 3-3.
Murray wasn't the only Denver player struggling to shoot. The Wolves overall shot 46.5 percent from the field, while the Nuggets were limited to 30.2 percent team shooting.
"Everybody on their team just kind of brought their game today, and we weren't able to defend them, and keep them out of our paint or get them off the line," Murray said.
Murray said he hurt his elbow on a screen, and that the injury then bothered him throughout the game.
"I put some numbing cream on it, so I didn't have to feel it every time I extended," Murray said. "But like I said, man, everybody gets hurt. Ant just got hurt, he came to play. It was just the fact that I was shooting the ball, and that's what I do most, so. I was never really in to get into my rhythm again, and my team obviously needed me to tonight, and I didn't.
"It's disappointing. I'm disappointed in myself for not being able to give them the right production that I know I can."
When asked if he believed the injury would improve before Game 7, Murray said, "I mean, I hope."
This isn't the first time this postseason that the Nuggets have had to deal with Murray's uncertain availability. He has been routinely been listed as "questionable" on Denver's injury report due to a calf strain suffered in Game 4 of the Nuggets' first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Denver will hope Murray is able to bounce back with a stronger shooting performance as the Nuggets head home for Sunday's Game 7 with a ticket to the conference finals on the line.
