The Denver Nuggets almost had the perfect welcome back for Nikola Jokic. They fought back from a sluggish first half, cutting through a 24-point lead like it never existed. However, clinical buckets gave the Dallas Mavericks the will to stay on top on the road. The Nuggets dropped their second NBA Cup game. And after the contest, Jamal Murray was put on the hot seat.

The Canadian guard, usually an unrelenting scorer, has had a challenging few months. Since the 2024 postseason, his shooting form hasn’t stuck well. That has leaked into this season. Tonight, he hit just 4 of his 16 shots, all of the makes being threes. As the head coach, Michael Malone has shown great trust in the potent scorer. However, even his concerns are starting to grow now.

“4 for 11 from three. Some of those are shots he normally makes. And I’m sure some of those are probably maybe shots where we could have swung it or made an extra pass for maybe a better shot,” he said after the tough loss to the Mavericks.

Still, Malone did see some good things from Jamal Murray. With his shot not falling, the 27-year-old opted to become a secondary creator besides Nikola Jokic. The dynamic tandem combined for 21 assists in the 43 field goals Denver made. Using the attention the Mavericks defense gave him, Jamal Murray was able to find open teammates and lead a fluent Nuggets offense.

Likewise, Malone admired the effort. But he wants to see Murray flourish, and he takes the onus on himself. “We got to find a way. I have to find a way to help to get Jamal going,” said the renowned head coach.

In the past few games, this very offense had waned. However, with the Joker and Murray drawing the plays, the Nuggets shot the ball with a superior efficiency to Dallas. However, that shot-making rhythm hasn’t translated to Murray yet. And his challenges are some of the worst he is facing in his career.

Jamal Murray needs to fight his biggest battle

There was Murray last year, breaking down the Lakers’ defense and hitting daggers on a nightly basis. With him on the floor, until last year, defenses couldn’t sag off him or Jokic. That’s what elevated their duo to being one of the most effective in the entire NBA. But since his shooting slump, defenses have begun to increasingly blitz only on Nikola Jokic.

Why?

Because Murray has never shot the ball with such inaccuracy. This season, he is shooting 46.3% on two-point attempts. Never has the scoring sensation shot worse in his career, not even in his first season since returning from injury. Additionally, there has also been an unusual decline in his three-point shooting.

Murray is only shooting 33.8% from three this year, another career-low for the eight-year veteran. Last game, it felt like his phase had finally snapped. He scored 27 points against the Grizzlies on 50% efficiency. It was arguably Murray’s best performance this season. However, gaining consistency again could take some time.

Nonetheless, Jamal Murray is a hooper with cerebral instincts. Maybe his shot isn’t falling and is unable to flow as he did last year. Still, it’s only a matter of time before he rediscovers his rhythm. The 27-year-old has a track record of excellence for 8 years. Such benchmarks don’t drop so suddenly.