As the Denver Nuggets navigate the very mid-point of their season, it’s performances like tonight that will be lost on the wind.
On the same night as the Denver Broncos advancing to the AFC Championship Game (and Bo Nix going down for the season) the Nuggets found a way to win in the manner they always seem to find lately.
The Nuggets rose to the occasion, led by Jamal Murray and Tim Hardaway Jr., in a clutch 121-115 win over the Washington Wizards. It’s a game they almost certainly lose last year, which makes sense given the Wizards swept them in 2024-25.
Murray dominated the game with 42 points and six assists, scoring efficiently and on volume, getting to wherever he wanted to go, and just being the same ol’ Jamal from this season.
“I’m not doing nothing different. Balls going in the hoop,” Murray told media after the game. “I didn’t take a secret juice or anything. I just made shots.”
And he made a lot of them, shooting 15-of-24 from the field, 5-of-8 from three, and 7-of-8 from free throw. It was one of Murray’s best shotmaking performances on the season, taking stepback jumpers consistently, turnaround fadeaways, flashy drives to the rim with high-arcing bank shots, and much more. He was in his bag, as he continues to be while stepping up in the absence of Nikola Jokic.
THIRD 40-PT GAME OF THE SEASON FOR JAMAL MURRAY TONIGHT.
42 PTS 6 AST 2 STL 2 BLK 5 3PM@nuggets win their fourth straight! pic.twitter.com/JvStEyXxbw
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2026
“There are certain people in our league that can do things other guys can’t,” David Adelman said postgame. “Jamal’s a shot maker.”
Also dominant in this game was Tim Hardaway Jr., who scored 30 points off the bench and gave the Nuggets the momentum they needed throughout the game to win.
Hardaway had an important fourth quarter stretch after a Nuggets timeout in which he made back-to-back three-pointers, cutting Washington’s lead to just 1 point. There were several of those moments throughout the game in which the Nuggets needed a boost and turned to THJ for it. He’s delivered consistently this year and is having fun doing so.
Back-to-back threes from Tim Hardaway Jr. make this a 1-point game pic.twitter.com/ggzXfB5L7L
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) January 18, 2026
“I just try to do the best I could to come off the bench and be that spark plug,” Hardaway shared. “You never know when these opportunities are going to come… so just relish the opportunity.”
Outside of Murray and Hardaway, Peyton Watson added 21 points in 14 shots, an efficient night for the breakout star and his 10th straight game of 18+ points. Watson’s ability to contort for layups, floaters, fallaway jumpers, and whatever else he’s doing around the rim right now has been special. He wasn’t the main story tonight, but he keeps helping the Nuggets in a big way.
Finally, Aaron Gordon nearly had a triple-double with 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, filling in the Nikola Jokic role as the anchor at center and high post passer for others. Gordon took just eight shots (hitting a clutch three in the fourth quarter) but his game was heavily geared toward defense and playmaking while matching up with the tall and athletic Alex Sarr at center.
Overall, the Nuggets continue to find ways to win. They’re having fun, and now they’ve won four in a row and seven of their last ten without Jokic on the floor. Denver’s survived in ways we didn’t expect, and it’s been interesting to watch Denver dig deep in new ways.
“We have to. We don’t have any room for error,” Murray shared about the Nuggets locking in during this stretch without Jokic. “We have no choice. We have to come up with the energy or else we’ll get thumped.”
Denver knows they have to play hard every night, and they’re doing it. At some point, they’ll be able to sit back and rest a little.
But with the Charlotte Hornets coming to Ball Arena on Sunday night, today is not that day.
Jamal Murray erupts in Denver Nuggets clutch win over Washington Wizards Mile High Sports.
Hence then, the article about jamal murray erupts in denver nuggets clutch win over washington wizards was published today ( ) and is available on Mile High Sports ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Jamal Murray erupts in Denver Nuggets clutch win over Washington Wizards )
Also on site :
- Rockstar Games Granted GTA 6 Early Access for Terminally Ill Fan
- India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI live streaming details: When & where to watch Virat Kohli live in action?
- AS Roma vs. Torino FC Prediction, Picks, Live Odds – Jan. 18