Jamal Murray Went 16-for-16 From the Line and Minnesota Still Couldn't Stop It

The Denver Nuggets just took Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it wasn't close: 116-105. But here's what's wild. Jamal Murray dropped a game-high 30 points, and the way he did it has to be driving Minnesota absolutely crazy.

Murray went a perfect 16-for-16 from the free throw line. Sixteen. For. Sixteen. That's a franchise record. Not a maybe-the-refs-were-helping kind of night either. After the game, Murray was crystal clear about it: "I thought I got fouled on every single one of them. I don't know what everybody's talking about. They were real fouls."

The Free Throw Line Saved Denver When Nothing Else Was Working

Here's the thing that makes this even more brutal for Minnesota. The Nuggets were absolutely ice-cold everywhere else. They went 1-for-17 from three in the second half. That's catastrophically bad. But Denver still held on because they made 30 of 33 free throws overall. When your offense is that broken from distance, living at the line becomes your lifeline, and Murray was unstoppable there.

The Nuggets had built a 15-point lead in the third quarter and easily could've blown it. Instead, they gutted out a gritty home win to take a 1-0 edge in the series. That matters more than you might think. Denver has now taken the lead in nine series openers since 2023, and they've won six of the seven previous series when they've done it.

This Rivalry Just Keeps Getting Tighter

These two teams know each other inside and out. They've played each other more times in the last three years than any other two teams in the league. Since 2023, the Nuggets hold a 15-14 record against Minnesota in the regular season and playoffs combined. That's as even as it gets.

Murray knows Game 1 jitters are real. He talks about having too much energy, too much adrenaline. But he's learned to channel it. This series is going to be tight, exactly like every matchup between these teams has been. Denver just stole the first one with Murray's flawless free throw shooting. Minnesota will get another chance soon, but Game 1 goes to Denver.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.