Jamal Murray signaled for a timeout on behalf of the Grizzlies’ bench. He nodded in approval when they agreed that it was needed.
Playing backyard basketball with Nikola Jokic, Murray had just nonchalantly flipped a pass behind his back to the reigning MVP center, whose floater gave the Nuggets a late 112-108 lead. Denver’s signature two-man game was providing a refreshing reminder of its potency, and Murray was talking his trash on the way back to the bench. It was the emotional apex of a 14-1 closing run to secure a 117-109 comeback win over the Grizzlies in both teams’ most important game of the season.