Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Murray continues torrid stretch with unreal first half in Game 3

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 5/20/23

Jamal Murray followed his epic fourth quarter in Game 2 with an even more unreal display in the first half of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.

He began 11-of-13 from the field and scored 30 points in the first half of a game Los Angeles must win. A loss would put Denver up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. No team in NBA history has ever come back from such a deficit.

Murray kicked things off with 17 points in the first quarter after scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter of Denver's 108-103 Game 2 win. Per ESPN Stats & Info, the 40 points Murray scored in consecutive quarters is the most of any player in a two-quarter span in the last 25 NBA postseasons.

Jamal Murray last 2 quarters:

40 PTS
14-17 FG

Playoff Jamal. pic.twitter.com/y9bUBmRzgK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 21, 2023

Jamal Murray has scored 40 points in his last 2 quarters. That is the most over a 2-quarter span over the last 25 postseasons. pic.twitter.com/LKBMeaP22D
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 21, 2023

Murray is known for some incredible playoff performances, and Saturday's Game 3 against the Lakers is shaping up to be another masterpiece. During his breakout 2020 postseason, he had two 50-point performances. He's 20 points away from that mark and Denver can use every one of those points.

The Lakers responded strongly to end the half, only trailing 58-55. Murray scored more than half of the Nuggets' points in the first half and will need a lot more help in the second half. As hot as he's been the past three quarters, Denver will be asking a lot of him if it expects another 30 points in the second half.

But at this point, Murray's proven he's up to the challenge. It will be up to his teammates to make sure his incredible night isn't wasted on a losing effort.

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