NBA Playoffs 2026: Nuggets and Knicks strike first in 1st round

Jamal Murray has long been established as a decisive figure in the playoffs, although his impact usually comes in the final moments. This time was different. In the Denver Nuggets' 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the point guard dominated the game from the free-throw line.

Murray went a flawless 16 for 16 from the free-throw line, setting a new franchise record, and finished the night with 30 points, the highest mark of the game. After the game, he made it clear that he had no doubts about the fouls called, convinced that they were all legitimate.

Denver's accuracy from the free-throw line was crucial. The team converted 30 of its 33 attempts, a key statistic considering their huge struggles from beyond the arc in the second half, where they only managed to make one three-pointer out of 17 attempts.

That offensive slump threatened to dissolve the 15-point lead they had built in the third quarter. However, the Nuggets managed to hold on in the most challenging moments and secure the victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Since 2023, the Denver team has shown a strong ability to start the playoffs on a high note. They have won the first game in eight of their last nine series and ended up winning six of the seven previous ones in which they started ahead.

An Increasingly Intense Rivalry

The matchup between the Nuggets and Timberwolves has become one of the most common in recent years. No other pair of teams has faced each other as many times in that recent period.

With this result, Denver holds a 15-14 balance against Minnesota since 2023, including regular season and playoffs. A stat that reflects the equality between both teams and anticipates a highly competitive series.

Murray also explained his mental evolution in these kinds of scenarios. Far from the overflowing adrenaline of his early games, he now opts for calmness, letting the game flow without forcing situations, a mindset that, according to him, allows him to perform with greater consistency.

Brunson Leads the Knicks' First Step

In the Eastern Conference, Jalen Brunson was the main protagonist in the New York Knicks' 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The point guard scored 28 points, 22 of them in a brilliant first half where he made his first six shots, igniting the crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Brunson's performance declined in the second half, where he failed to score after missing his seven attempts. Nevertheless, his impact was sufficient thanks to the collective contribution of the Knicks, who managed to hold a lead of up to 19 points.

The player himself described the game as physical and highly contested, emphasizing the toughness of the match.

The game was filled with physical actions. Brunson received an inadvertent kick from CJ McCollum, while Karl-Anthony Towns took an elbow to the head in a rebound battle.

Mitchell Robinson was also hit in the groin during a play under the basket.

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