Jamal Murray Jokes About Nuggets' Free Throw Woes After Win Over Nets

The Denver Nuggets guard poked fun at his own struggles at the line in a previous loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:55pm

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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray made light of his team's free throw troubles after they narrowly defeated the Brooklyn Nets 107-103. Murray had missed a crucial free throw in a recent loss to the Detroit Pistons, but this time it was teammate Jonas Valanciunas who sealed the win by sinking his free throws in the final seconds.

Why it matters

Murray's self-deprecating comments show the Nuggets' ability to bounce back from tough losses and maintain a positive team dynamic, even when individual players struggle at critical moments. The Nuggets have continued to find success this season despite the absence of star Nikola Jokic.

The details

In the final seconds against the Nets, the Nuggets held a slim 105-103 lead. The Nets intentionally fouled Valanciunas, who then made both of his free throws to clinch the victory. Earlier in the week, Murray had the chance to tie or win the game for the Nuggets against the Pistons at the free throw line, but he missed one of his attempts.

  • The Nuggets defeated the Nets on Thursday, January 30, 2026.
  • The Nuggets lost to the Pistons on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Jamal Murray

A guard for the Denver Nuggets who is having another stellar season, averaging 87.1% from the free-throw line for his career.

Jonas Valanciunas

A veteran center for the Denver Nuggets who sealed the win over the Nets by making both of his free throw attempts in the final seconds.

Michael Porter Jr.

A forward who was recently traded from the Nuggets to the Brooklyn Nets in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“We'll just have him (Valanciunas) shoot (free throws) instead of me from now on.”

— Jamal Murray (The Denver Post)

What’s next

The Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The takeaway

Despite their recent free throw struggles, the Nuggets have shown resilience and the ability to win close games, even without their star player Nikola Jokic. Jamal Murray's self-deprecating humor after the win over the Nets demonstrates the team's positive attitude and willingness to learn from their mistakes.