NBA: Jamal Murray returning to form as Nuggets face skidding Blazers

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) is interviewed by media after the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings d at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets are confident Jamal Murray is back to his best as they take their three-game winning streak to Portland to face the Trail Blazers in the NBA on Thursday night.

While Nikola Jokic continues to enhance his claims on a fourth MVP with another dominant season, the Nuggets have needed others to join him in their bid to climb the Western Conference standings.

Murray stood tall in Denver’s wild 130-129 road win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday, scoring 15 of his team-high and season-high-tying 28 points in the seesawing fourth quarter.

READ: NBA: Nuggets rout Clippers behind Jamal Murray

The Nuggets went from leading 44-21 early in the second quarter to trailing 119-109 with 4:10 left in regulation, before Murray carried them home, burying the go-ahead jumper with 8.6 seconds remaining.

Murray’s 18.4 scoring average and 42.5 percent clip from the floor are among his lowest numbers since his 2016-17 rookie campaign.

Denver coach Michael Malone believes the Canadian guard turned the corner in Sacramento.

“Jamal Murray got going in the fourth quarter,” Malone said. “He had 15 points overall in that quarter, but he had nine decisive points in that 21-10 run to close.

READ: NBA: Nuggets’ Jamal Murray agrees to 4-year, $208M extension

“We need Jamal. We need Jamal Murray to get going. He knows that, we know that,” the coach continued. “To have a 15-point fourth quarter, in a really important road win, against a team that had us on the ropes, Jamal helped get us off those ropes and lead us to a win.

“Hopefully, this can be a boost to his confidence and his overall spirit.”

Jokic put 20 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists on the Kings for his NBA-best 10th triple-double of the season, while Russell Westbrook, starting for injured guard Christian Braun (lower back spasms), finished one rebound shy of a 201st career triple-double.

The all-round capabilities of Jokic, Murray and Westbrook loom as a handful for the Blazers, who fell to their sixth straight defeat in a 116-109 road loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

READ: Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic ready to lead Nuggets’ new NBA quest

Center Deandre Ayton missed the Arizona trip due to illness, but is listed as day-to-day after practicing on Tuesday.

Rookie Donovan Clingan started in Ayton’s place, while reserve small forward Deni Avdija was forced to spend time at the pivot against Phoenix.

Handling Jokic in the middle is the toughest task in basketball, but Portland coach Chauncey Billups was proud of the way Avdija acquitted himself in an unfamiliar role against the Suns, posting 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

“I’ve been very happy with how Deni’s playing and what he’s given us,” Billups said. “He plays with a lot of force and a lot of power.

“We always stress trying to get to the paint, and he’s probably the best on our team at getting there,” he added. “He’s making really good decisions when he gets there. I have to use him in a lot of different areas. There was a stretch (against Phoenix), and he’s not used to this, when I had to use him at the five.

“He’s reliable, I trust him, and he’s done a really good job of settling in here.” –Field Level Media