Ryan Blackburn here, the host of the daily Locked On Nuggets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nuggets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nuggets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
10-Piece: Jamal Murray goes for 45 points in Dallas
Jan 14, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) runs back up the court after scoring a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron/Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The 10-piece breaks down 10 things to know from each of the Nuggets’ 82 regular season games. Today’s edition discusses the Nuggets’ 118-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
1. 45 points: This was an unbelievable Jamal Murray performance. 18-of-26 from the field and 5-of-9 from three. Murray had 32 points in the first half alone. He was absolutely scorching.
2. Murray isn’t “back” but that was still so much fun: He will still be inconsistent, but this was exactly what Nuggets fans needed to see from Murray. The ceiling remains intact. He can go to the next level. It was just his second 30-point game of the year.
3. Casual Jokic night: Nobody was happier than Jokic to see Murray going off. Jokic took seven shots, had 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, perhaps the most casual triple-double of his career.
4. Kyrie locked up: 11 points on 4-of-18 from the field in his return. Christian Braun can claim some credit there, as can Peyton Watson, Russell Westbrook, and even Jamal Murray. Nobody on the Mavericks scored over 13 points.
5. MPJ and Russ adjust: With Murray hot, Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook took fewer shots on purpose. They wanted to feed Murray while he had it going. Porter still found his looks, and Westbrook made an all-around impact as usual.
6. Bench up and down: DeAndre Jordan had some fun moments. So did Peyton Watson. Julian Strawther mostly got hunted defensively though, and Aaron Gordon shot just 2-of-9 from the field on some open jumpers. It didn’t end up mattering much, but it’s important to remember that the bench will still be inconsistent, especially with cramped spacing on offense.
7. Mavs remain a threat: Don’t be fooled. The Mavericks weren’t full strength in basically any of their matchups against Denver. When Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively are on the floor, the Mavericks have a +21.8(!) Net Rating in roughly 400 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass. They can be elite on both ends of the floor, and Lively has the size to battle Jokic.
8. Two bits of history: Jokic became the fastest player in NBA history to achieve 15,000 points, 7,500 rebounds, and 5,000 assists, doing so in 709 games. Larry Bird was the next fastest. He did it in close to 800 games, about a full season’s worth...Also, Murray became the first player in NBA history to score 45+ points when nobody else on either team scored at least 15 points. Wild.
9. HUGE pivot point: The Nuggets end up winning the season series 3-1 against the Mavericks. That tiebreaker could have massive ramifications for playoff seeding in about three months.
10. Up Next: The Nuggets play a back-to-back tonight against the 2-seed Houston Rockets. This is a massive matchup, so let’s see if Denver can keep up their undefeated streak on SEGABABAs.
Have potential contenders figured out the Celtics?
Jan 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) fouls Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half at TD Garden. | Paul Rutherford/Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
It’s always risky, doubting the Celtics. Not for Celtics fans, but for the rest of us. On Friday night, at home, Boston fans booed their team as they let the Kings take an uncontested rebound and take (then make) the same 3-point attempt. The Celtics lost, recording their 11th of the season. That’s only four games more than this time last year.
Going back, Boston recorded most of their losses last season in the winter stretch leading up to All-Star Weekend, the same stretch they’re in now. I would chalk a lot of those losses up to fatigue and deft competition who could sense the Celtics easing up on the gas, if briefly. The Nuggets, Bucks, Cavaliers and (then) white hot Pacers took advantage of those minor slumps. The losses now, though coming this season within the same stretch with the same fatigue taking a portion of the toll, have to do more with opponents figuring out how the Celtics tick.
This season, the Celtics are a known quality. Their brand of basketball last year overwhelmed the majority of their opponents, teams not built to withstand a barrage of incessant 3-point shooting backed by a quick and smothering defence without a moment to recalibrate or catch their breath. Most teams spent entire games, and all their energy, trying to chase Boston off the line. This season the Celtics have slipped to a 7th overall (from 3rd) defensive rating, and are currently 3rd overall (from 1st) in offence — teams have figured them out.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Trades Here’s the latest on the NBA trade deadline and rumblings around the league. (The Athletic)
Milestone Nikola Jokic continues to etch his name in NBA history. His performance against the Mavericks marked another milestone, showcasing his unparalleled skill and consistency. (Sports Illustrated)
Trade As the 2025 NBA trade deadline approaches, who’s untouchable on the Nuggets? (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Nuggets host the Rockets tonight at 9:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
3peat (ICYMI)
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