DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray shot and made 16 free throws. The entire Minnesota Timberwolves team went to the line 19 times.
It was a discrepancy not lost on Minnesota coach Chris Finch.
“Well, the 16 free throws from Murray was a head scratcher,” Finch said after a 116-105 loss to the Nuggets in Game 1 of their first-round series Saturday. “I thought we played really good defense on him.”
Murray, though, begs to differ.
“I thought I got fouled on every single one of them,” Murray said after finishing with 30 points. “I don’t know what everybody’s talking about. Real fouls.”
By going 16 of 16, Murray earned a spot in the Nuggets' record book. It's the most free throws without a miss in a playoff game in team history, breaking the mark of 14 by Bryant Stith at Utah on May 17, 1994. It's the most free throws Murray has attempted in a game in his NBA career.
When his long-range jumper wasn't falling — he was 0 for 8 from the 3-point line — Murray simply took it closer to the hoop. He shot eight free throws in the second quarter alone.
“A lot of those ones in the second quarter, we were there,” Finch said. "We were physical. We were vertical. He initiates the contact, he spills away and then he gets rewarded for it.
“Sixteen free throws is a lot. It’s almost as many as we shot all game.”
Murray and Nikola Jokic were quite a 1-2 combo. Jokic finished with his 22nd playoff triple-double. He had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Denver improved to 15-7 when Jokic has a triple-double in a postseason game.
It was Murray's show for much of the game. He also had seven assists and five rebounds in more than 39 minutes.
“He’s been so good all year,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman, whose team gears up for Game 2 on Monday night. "Jamal has been Jamal all year, tough-minded.”
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is finding his stride, too, as he rounds back from a right knee injury. He had 22 points and seven assists in just over 38 minutes.
“It wasn’t the Ant we’re used to seeing, but is pretty much as expected in where he is in trying to find his rhythm,” Finch explained.
Edwards felt the same way.
“A little fatigued,” Edwards said. “Other than that I felt good."
Edwards was 6 of 7 from the foul line.
“Jamal helped them. He shot, what 19 — how many free throws did he shoot?” Edwards said, looking down at the stat sheet. “Sixteen for sixteen from the free-throw line. So that helped them a lot.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch looks on in the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, left, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, left, tries to block a shot by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, LeBron James had 19 points and 13 assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant's injury absence for a 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the opener of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night.
Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Lakers, who pulled off an impressive win without their top two scorers.
Both teams played the opener without their most important player. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been out indefinitely with injuries since April 2, while Durant was a late scratch with a bruised right knee.
Los Angeles thrived by hitting 60.6% of its shots while holding the Rockets to 37.6% shooting with pesky defense.
Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who finished one game behind Los Angeles in the regular season. Amen Thompson added 17 points, but Houston's young core got off to an inconsistent start after becoming the firm favorite in this series due to the Lakers' injury woes.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
The Lakers acquired Kennard from Atlanta in early February, and the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter became a key reserve before he seized a major role over the past two weeks in the absence of Los Angeles’ starting backcourt. He hit four 3-pointers in Game 1 while making nine of his first 12 shots.
Durant must wait at least one more game to make his Rockets playoff debut after banging knees with a teammate in practice Wednesday. Reed Sheppard took his spot in the starting lineup and hit five 3-pointers while scoring 17 points, but the Rockets struggled for consistent half-court offense in Durant’s absence despite grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.
The Lakers took the lead for good on their first bucket of the second half, and they pushed their advantage to 16 points in the fourth quarter. Kennard scored 16 points after halftime, while The 41-year-old James began his 19th NBA postseason with an inspired, eight-assist first quarter followed by several gritty baskets down the stretch.
Los Angeles also got a boost from veteran guard Marcus Smart, who had 15 points and eight assists with four 3-pointers in his Lakers playoff debut. Smart said before the series that success would come down to “willpower” — and the Lakers clearly had more for starters.
Bronny James began the second quarter playing alongside his famous father in the first significant playoff minutes of the 21-year-old's career.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, talks to his son guard Bronny James during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, slaps hands with guard Bronny James during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart defends during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
