NBA Roundup: Murray's 45-Point Explosion Lifts Nuggets, Sengun Shines for Rockets
In a thrilling night of NBA basketball, Jamal Murray delivered a masterful performance, scoring 45 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a narrow 128-125 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The game, which took place on March 3, 2026, saw Murray hit the go-ahead free throws with just 31.8 seconds remaining, capping off a dominant display where he shot 13-of-19 from the field and drained eight three-pointers.
Nuggets Edge Jazz in Tense Finish
Murray erupted for 18 points in the third quarter alone, carrying the Nuggets as they battled fatigue in the second game of a back-to-back. Nikola Jokic contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds, making two crucial free throws with 6.1 seconds left to seal the win. The Jazz's Keyonte George scored 36 points, but a late foul call on Jokic was overturned to a blocked shot after review, denying Utah a chance to take the lead. George missed a potential tying three-pointer at the buzzer, extending the Jazz's losing streak to six games.
Julian Strawther added 15 points for Denver, while Jonas Valanciunas chipped in 13. For Utah, George shot 14-of-22 with four three-pointers, Kyle Filipowski scored 19, and Ace Bailey had 18.
Rockets Soar Past Wizards Behind Sengun's Dominance
In another highlight, Alperen Sengun powered the Houston Rockets to a 123-118 win over the Washington Wizards. Sengun dominated the interior with 32 points and 13 rebounds, soaring to the basket and leading Houston's offensive charge. Kevin Durant supported with 30 points, going a perfect 11-for-11 at the free-throw line and dishing out seven assists.
Amen Thompson tallied 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, while rookie Reed Sheppard recorded 19 points and 10 assists. For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly scored 23 points, but Trae Young was ejected for stepping onto the court to argue with a referee ahead of his expected debut with the team.
Other NBA Results
Los Angeles Clippers 114, Golden State Warriors 101: Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 23 points and eight rebounds as they rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Warriors. Darius Garland scored 12 in his Clippers debut after a trade deadline acquisition.
Boston Celtics 108, Milwaukee Bucks 81: Payton Pritchard scored 25 points, and rookie Hugo González added 18 points and 16 rebounds as the Celtics routed the Bucks. Derrick White also had 18 points for Boston, who have won seven of their last eight games. Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a calf strain with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes for Milwaukee.
