Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray on Sunday hit one of the toughest shots of the 2024 NBA playoffs so far. The wild bucket also led to one of the coldest photos of the year.
The Nuggets held a 59-49 lead over the Timberwolves with just seconds remaining in the first half of their Game 4 Western Conference semifinal matchup at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
A dunk from Michael Porter Jr. gave the Nuggets a 61-49 lead with 1.6 seconds left in the second quarter. Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker hurled an inbound pass past the halfcourt line to try to get his team one more attempt. But it was Murray who came away with the basketball.
Murray heaved a desperation shot from three-quarters of the court that somehow swished right through the net.
JAMAL MURRAY FROM BEYOND HALFCOURT.
KEVIN HARLAN IS HYPED.
Nuggets lead at halftime on TNT 🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/PKjD1bS9CG
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024
Murray happened to be standing right next to TNT announcer Kevin Harlan when the shot went in. Murray stared right into Harlan’s eyes as the veteran broadcaster made the call on live television.
The TNT broadcast made the brilliant decision to pan the camera right at Murray and Harlan during the incredible moment.
This pic of Kevin Harlan and Jamal Murray 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QvU7ArEDGd
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 13, 2024
Murray’s long-distance connection was massive for Denver beyond just its degree of difficulty. Moments prior, the Timberwolves had cut the Nuggets’ 16-point lead in the second quarter to seven with under a minute left.
Murray’s shot capped off an 8-0 Nuggets run to end the half. The Nuggets led wire-to-wire in the second half to seal a 115-107 win.
Home teams fell to 0-4 in the series as the teams head back to Denver for game 5.
