Nuggets' David Adelman Praises Jamal Murray's Dominant Night vs. Jazz

Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman was in awe of guard Jamal Murray's 45-point performance in the team's narrow win over the Utah Jazz.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 12:31am

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The Denver Nuggets narrowly defeated the Utah Jazz 128-125 on Monday, thanks in large part to a dominant 45-point performance from guard Jamal Murray. Nuggets coach David Adelman praised Murray's spectacular showing, noting that he scored 45 points on just 19 shots. This was not the first time Adelman has lauded Murray, as the coach has previously called him "above average" and underscored that he has been underappreciated by fans. The 29-year-old Murray is having a stellar campaign, earning his first-ever All-Star selection.

Why it matters

Jamal Murray's standout performance against the Jazz showcases his continued growth as one of the NBA's most dynamic young guards. His ability to take over games and lead the Nuggets to victories is crucial as the team looks to secure a high playoff seed in the Western Conference. Adelman's glowing praise of Murray also highlights the guard's underrated status around the league, despite his All-Star selection this season.

The details

In the Nuggets' narrow 128-125 win over the Jazz, Jamal Murray erupted for 45 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including 8-of-13 from 3-point range. He also contributed 2 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. Nuggets coach David Adelman was clearly impressed by Murray's dominance, saying "Jamal was really special. I mean, 45 points on 19 shots." This was not the first time Adelman has praised Murray, as the coach previously called him "above average" and noted that he has been underappreciated by fans.

  • The Nuggets defeated the Jazz on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • In December, Murray scored a season-high 52 points.

The players

Jamal Murray

A 29-year-old guard for the Denver Nuggets who is having a stellar campaign, including earning his first-ever All-Star selection.

David Adelman

The head coach of the Denver Nuggets, who has repeatedly praised Murray's play and called him "above average" despite the guard being underappreciated by fans.

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What they’re saying

“Jamal was really special. I mean, 45 points on 19 shots.”

— David Adelman, Head Coach, Denver Nuggets

What’s next

The Nuggets will return to action on Thursday, March 6, 2026 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The takeaway

Jamal Murray's dominant 45-point performance in the Nuggets' narrow win over the Jazz showcases his continued growth as one of the NBA's most dynamic young guards. His ability to take over games and lead the Nuggets to victories is crucial as the team looks to secure a high playoff seed in the Western Conference, and Adelman's glowing praise highlights Murray's underrated status around the league despite his recent All-Star selection.