Jamal Murray scored six points on two made field goals and zero three-pointers in the Denver Nuggets’ 84–98 season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on October 22, 2026.
Murray attempted 11 field goals and made 2, shot 0-of-1 from three, recorded 1 assist and 2 turnovers in 29 minutes, and scored just 1 point after halftime — his lowest second-half output in nine NBA seasons with Denver. His performance fits a broader trend: over his last nine games versus Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio, he shot 38.4% from the field and 28.6% from three.
Jamal Murray wore jersey number 27. Isaiah Hartenstein wore number 55 for Oklahoma City. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 98–84. Murray’s 2-of-11 field goal shooting (18.2%) marked his worst efficiency in a season opener since 2018. He scored 1 point in the second half — a free throw at 6:42 of the third quarter — and attempted no shots in the final 14:17 of the half. Nikola Jokić tallied 27 points and 17 rebounds but dished only 5.7 assists, below his 6.9 average versus San Antonio.
Second-Half Collapse
Murray’s single second-half point was the lowest in any regular-season half since he entered the league in 2016. His previous second-half low was 4 points — achieved twice in 2023. In Game 6 of last season’s Western Conference semifinals against Minnesota, Murray made 4-of-17 field goals (23.5%) and scored 12 points. The Nuggets scored 98 points in that playoff game; they managed only 84 on October 22.
Murray’s field goal percentage against Minnesota over his last nine games is 37.1%, with 31.9% three-point accuracy. Against San Antonio in the same span, he shot 47.6% overall and 39.6% from three. His turnover rate versus Minnesota is 2.9 per game — the highest among those three opponents. David Adelman, Denver’s head coach, confirmed Murray would start Game 2.
Western Conference Slump
Over his last nine games versus Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio, Murray averaged 20.9 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.9 turnovers. His field goal percentage was 38.4%; his three-point percentage, 28.6%. Against Oklahoma City alone in that stretch, he attempted 17 field goals and made 4 in Game 6 of last season’s playoffs. The Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 24. Murray has scored at least 20 points in seven of his last nine games versus Minnesota — but his three-point shooting remains below league average. With Jokić drawing double teams, Murray’s ability to convert open looks will shape Denver’s start to the 2026–27 season.
The Nuggets’ 84 points were their fewest in a season opener since 2019. Murray’s 6 points, 1 assist, and 2 turnovers came in 29 minutes. His 37.1% field goal shooting versus Minnesota, 47.6% versus San Antonio, and 38.4% across all three opponents underscore a persistent inefficiency against elite Western Conference defenses.