The NBA could not have asked for a better game to open the 2020 playoffs with the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz going into overtime to decide a winner in this first-round matchup. Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray exchanged shots back and forth in the stretch, but eventually Murray’s play in overtime led the Nuggets to a 135-125 win and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Mitchell finished the game with 57 points, becoming the youngest player since Michael Jordan to set up 50-plus points in a playoff game. It turned out that the Jazz were in control for the majority of the second half, and looked like they might be able to pick up this win. However, an all-star effort from Murray forced overtime, and his play – like a meltdown for Utah in OT – became the deciding factor. Murray scored 10 of his 36 points in OT to secure the win for Denver, ending the game just sadly for a double-double with nine assists.
The 1-2 punch of Murray and Nikola Jokic proved too much for Utah, as the sweet-shooting 7-footer showed his offensive versatility in the first half of the game, finishing the game with 29 points and 10 boards . A wide open 3-pointer from Jokic with two minutes to go in overtime extended Denver’s lead to nine, being the game for the Nuggets in essence.
