(Video) Clipper Fans’ Wall Taunts Pays Off As Jamal Murray Misses Clutch Free Throw

Jamal Murray’s missed free throw seals another Denver Nuggets collapse.

(Video) Clipper Fans’ Wall Taunts Pays Off As Jamal Murray Misses Clutch Free Throw

Jamal Murray missed a clutch free throw (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Jamal Murray missed a crucial free throw in the final seconds, leading to a 115-114 loss for the Nuggets against the Clippers.
  • The defeat dropped the Nuggets to fourth place in the Western Conference with a 35-21 record.
  • The Clippers' fan section, known as "the Wall," contributed to the pressure that may have affected Murray's performance at the free-throw line.

Denver Nuggets point-guard Jamal Murray is having the best season of his NBA career. Drafted by the Nuggets as the seventh pick in the 2016 NBA draft, the Canadian international has formed a formidable partnership with Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Currently in his ninth season with the Nuggets, Murray helped the club win their first ever NBA championship in 2023.

Jamal Murray is having a career-high season in all categories, which helped him earn his maiden All-Star selection this year. He is currently averaging 25.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 50 appearances this season.

When Jokic missed 16 games due to injury, many believed the Nuggets would fall off the top-six in his absence. However, Murray played a significant role in steadying the ship and keeping them competitive. Unfortunately, it was his missed free throw that cost them on Thursday night.

The Nuggets suffered a narrow 115-114 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome. The defeat dropped them to fourth place in the Western Conference standings with a 35-21 record. Meanwhile, the Clippers continued with their fine form despite trading away James Harden. The win improved their record to 27-28 as they sit at ninth place in the standings and are just 1.5 games behind the Warriors.

Murray ended the night with 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. It was a rough night for the guard as he went just 33.3% from the field and made eight of his ten free throws. But one of the missed free throws could have tied the game.

The Clippers’ wall fan section made their voices heard as Murray missed from the line with 0.9 seconds left on the clock.

The Nuggets dropped to 14-14 in games within five points during the final five minutes. It was the first game out of the All-Star Break for Denver, but it mirrored so many of the issues the Nuggets had in the first half of the season.

NBA fans react to Jamal Murray’s missed free throw at the end of the game

Late-game free throws always have added pressure. The Nuggets were outdone by Bennedict Mathurin from the bench. The 23-year-old scored 38 points from the bench.

Following Murray’s missed free throw, NBA fans took to social media to react to what had happened.

Murray is generally efficient from the line and is shooting at 88.7% this season. The Clippers wall did a good job in turning up the noise and may have played a role in Murray missing the free throw.

Kawhi Leonard on Jamal Murray’s missed free throw

Kawhi Leonard may be on the hottest stretch of his career over the last two months. While he was not at his absolute best on Thursday, he did record 23 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Following the win, Leonard was asked about Murray’s missing the game-tying free throw.

Jamal Murray and Kawhi Leonard
Jamal Murray and Kawhi Leonard (Image credits – Los Angeles Times)

I was just hoping he was gonna miss one. We were up three. He knocked down the first two so was just hoping that he’d miss.

It was the first night of a back-to-back for both teams as the Nuggets take on the Portland Trail Blazers while the Clippers take on their cross-town rivals, the Lakers, on Friday night.

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