The Nuggets landed in Monday’s game carrying more than jet lag. After sitting on a plane for about six hours in Mexico City because of mechanical issues, they still put five starters on the floor and got 38 points from Jamal Murray in a loss.
That is why his name is drawing attention now: Murray was the first to answer David Adelman’s text before tipoff, and the rest of the group followed his lead. Adelman had reached out to six players — all five starters and DeMar DeRozan, who had all been listed as questionable — and told them they could take the night off if they needed it. Murray said he planned to play, and that set the tone.
The trip itself did not leave much room for recovery. The Nuggets were trying to fly from Mexico City to Houston ahead of Monday’s game against the Rockets, but the aircraft problem turned the overnight travel into a long delay and little sleep. By the time the game arrived, the question was not only who would be available, but who would be sharp enough to carry a full load after the disruption.
Murray answered that part with production. He scored 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting and played engaged defense, even as the Nuggets lost. Christian Braun said nobody in the group batted an eye at the text and that the players understood how important the game was and where they stood in the standings. He also said Murray wants it badly, plays to win and keeps taking another step on defense.
What remains unresolved is the detail that caused the whole mess in the first place. The flight delay was blamed on mechanical issues, but the exact problem was not identified. The only clear result is that the Nuggets finished Monday at 5-4, with a tired roster, a willing starter and one more road test already behind them.
