Jamal Murray delivered a blunt assessment after the Denver Nuggets were eliminated in a 110-98 Game 6 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Thursday night. “Not great. Didn’t have the game I wanted to have. Rough outing,” Murray said.
The guard immediately acknowledged Minnesota’s performance, adding, “Congrats to them. It was a good series. This series is going to make us better.” The defeat ended Denver’s playoff run after a physical and possession-heavy matchup defined by Minnesota’s size, pace, and rebounding edge.
Murray was direct when evaluating his own production, especially against Minnesota’s perimeter pressure led by Jaden McDaniels. “It’s just on me. I’ve made enough shots where I get into my spots and just unable to convert,” he said. “That’s the frustrating part.”
He expanded on the defensive challenge and missed opportunities. “They’re playing good defense, playing physical, trying to chase me around. When I get the looks that I need, they don’t go down. That’s the frustrating part, just not showing up when my team needed me most tonight,” Murray said.
Denver’s offensive rhythm never fully stabilized in the series, something Murray connected to both execution and shot-making. “If I played a little better, we would have had that game. It’s just frustrating on my part. I’ll take accountability for it,” he added.
The guard also pointed to broader team context, including injuries and lineup changes across the season. “We just had so many injuries. Even up until this point, guys coming in and filling in and being professionals,” Murray said. “The ups and downs of the season, I feel like we just really weathered the storms really well.”
Asked about the Nuggets’ long-term outlook with Nikola Jokic, Murray remained confident in the core. “Of course,” he said when discussing the two-man game. “We just need to be better. If I played a little better, I feel like we win the game.”
Minnesota’s defensive scheme consistently limited Denver’s primary actions, forcing tough possessions late in the shot clock. Murray acknowledged the Timberwolves’ approach while emphasizing competitive urgency. “They took this matchup personally and wanted it really bad. We got to want it more,” he said.
He also praised head coach David Adelman in his first full season leading the franchise. “It’s amazing. He’s still figuring it out… It’s a hard job,” Murray said, highlighting the adjustment process through injuries and constant rotations.
When asked about leadership, Murray kept the focus internal. “We have leaders. I just didn’t show up tonight. That’s why it’s on me,” he said. “If you saw the game that there were no leaders, then it’s on me.”
Denver now enters an offseason shaped by missed execution in key moments, while Minnesota advances with momentum built on physical dominance and depth-driven production.
