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Jamal Murray made bizarre decision to end Game 2 vs. Timberwolves
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Jamal Murray appeared to have a mental lapse in the dying seconds of Monday’s postseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Murray’s Denver Nuggets trailed 117-114 with under 20 seconds remaining in Game 2 of the first-round series at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. Murray had a ton of time to get a good look at a three, but inexplicably settled for a long two-pointer over the outstretched arms of Rudy Gobert that was well short of the cylinder.

Murray’s teammate, Aaron Gordon, who was parked in the left corner waiting for a pass, looked visibly upset at his point guard’s decision to pull up several feet inside the arc.

Going for two is forgivable in that situation with enough time left on the clock. But quick twos in such a scenario would usually come in the form of uncontested layups as the defense sells out to prevent a three-point shot.

Murray took arguably the worst shot possible against a 4-time Defensive Player of the Year, given the time and score. He finished with a team-high 30 points on 11/25 shooting in the 119-114 loss as Minnesota evened the series at 1-1.

The Canadian sharpshooter accounted for 6 of the Nuggets’ 15 made three-pointers in Monday’s game, even sinking one from well beyond the half-court line to end the first half.

But Murray failed to take the one that would have mattered most in the final seconds of Game 2.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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