Nuggets' Nikola Jokic touts Jamal Murray as 'our best player' - ESPN

DENVER — After drilling his second 3-pointer in a span of 28 seconds midway through the fourth quarter to essentially bury the Phoenix Suns in Game 1, Jamal Murray stood at half court during the ensuing timeout and implored the home crowd to stand and get loud.

«We waited for this!» Murray shouted twice while pointing his fingers toward the court.

Murray and the Denver Nuggets delivered an emphatic statement Saturday and reminded everyone they are the top seed in the Western Conference with a 125-107 rout over the Suns at Ball Arena.

Game 2 is Monday at Ball Arena.

«Those moments, when you dream of it as a kid, you try to reenact those in the backyard,» Murray said of when he sent the arena into a frenzy. «Just counting down [final seconds for a winning shot] or feeling the energy or hitting that big shot and you hear the crowd that loud, you live for those moments and you want to make the most of those moments.

»And I have been waiting for a while to be healthy to be back and playing at this level and during this time of the year."

Murray continued his playoff tear with 34 points and nine assists. He hit six 3-pointers, but it was his back-to-back 3's in the fourth quarter that halted a Suns' comeback. Phoenix cut a 17-point halftime lead to 10 twice, only to see Murray and the Nuggets halt its run.

«Jamal just continues to add to the legend of 'Playoff Jamal Murray,'» Denver head coach Michael Malone said. «He's a bad man. I mean, Jamal Murray lives for this.

»I tell you what, the last two years have been tough not having him. Two years ago, we got swept by these guys [the Suns] in the second round, and last year we lost to the eventual world champions [Golden State] in the first round. When Jamal Murray is healthy and