Jamal Murray addressed the Denver Nuggets’ mindset following Monday night’s 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center, which was marked by Nikola Jokic’s left knee injury. “I just wish the best [for Jokic]… as long as that’s out of the equation, it’s part of the game, but we never want to see it happen,” Murray said.
Despite Jokic leaving the game with 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, Murray emphasized the importance of the team stepping up. “It’s the same kind of mentality, just next man up… everybody’s in here ready to step up,” he explained, highlighting the Nuggets’ need to adapt quickly.
The point guard noted the challenge of losing an MVP-caliber player. “Losing the MVPs, it’s not always going to be easy… most of all just being in the right spirit, right mental attitude,” Murray said, stressing the significance of maintaining focus and energy throughout the game.
Murray also discussed the Nuggets’ approach to offensive adjustments. “Keeping the ball hopping, playing fast, and playing some defense… hopefully this gives us a chance to play some defense and have a faster play style,” he said, underlining the team’s intent to embrace a quicker tempo.
Regarding the mental impact of Jokic’s absence, Murray remarked, “Next up mentality… we’ve had injuries all throughout the season, so it just depends on our mental going into each game, having the right approach as a group.”
Denver trailed Miami by just 63-63 at halftime before the Heat scored 47 third-quarter points to seize control. Norman Powell led Miami with 25 points, while Nikola Jovic added 22, Jaime Jaquez 20, and Bam Adebayo returned from a two-game absence to pull down 10 rebounds.
Murray acknowledged the need for team cohesion in Jokic’s absence. “He’s not just a big part of what we do, but almost everything… just want to see him healthy, and everybody ready to step up,” he said, emphasizing the role of mental toughness and readiness among remaining players.
The Nuggets have now lost their first game in Miami since 2018, snapping an 11-game regular-season winning streak against the Heat. Spencer Jones contributed 16 points, Tim Hardaway added 16, and Murray scored 20, but Denver struggled to contain Miami’s offensive depth.
Denver will face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, with the team needing to quickly regroup and adapt to the loss of their star center in upcoming games.
