Jamal Murray jumped around just like House of Pain had preached.
As the anthem blared ahead of a jump ball late in Sunday’s fourth-quarter against Golden State, Murray looked gamely at his larger opponent: Draymond Green.
When the tip went awry and found its way to Aaron Gordon, Murray was waiting to deliver the 3-point dagger. But these were the defending champions. It took much more than a devastating 3-pointer and a double-digit deficit to knock them off.
The Nuggets survived a frenetic finish and two Klay Thompson 3-point looks that would’ve won it to hang on Sunday, 112-110.