The Denver Nuggets' 136-131 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night wasn't just another regular season win. At one point, Denver was down by 20 points, and things were looking bleak. Plus, the Nuggets were playing for the second night in a row, so coming back against a team like the Spurs was going to be a tough task. But Denver's response in the fourth quarter spoke volumes about the team's resiliency.
For Jamal Murray, that's what made the comeback so important. He would lead a rally in which the Nuggets outscored the Spurs 34–12 in the fourth.
"These are the games you live for," Murray said after the game. "Maybe not the playoffs, but these wins mean a lot. It says a lot about your character on the road as a group to deal with adversity. ... But it's amazing to see this group come away with a win."
Murray would have a tough first half, where he could only score nine points. However, he would score 30 points in the second half, including 16 points in the fourth quarter. His step-back three-pointer with less than five minutes remaining gave Denver its first lead, and he hit four crucial free throws to seal the win.
The adversity Murray mentioned extends beyond Thursday's game. Throughout the season, the Nuggets battled persistent injuries, causing their starting lineup to play only a few games together. Despite Aaron Gordon being out for hamstring maintenance, Denver was still able to accomplish this.
With the win, Denver improved to 41–26 and moved into a three-way tie for third place in the Western Conference. On Saturday they face the Los Angeles Lakers, who themselves are fighting for a spot in this final stretch of the regular season.
