Following Tuesday night's win, Jokić was asked to recall a key quote of his about Murray from that first Nuggets title run that feels evergreen right now. After an electric Murray led those Nuggets to a decisive Game 1 win over the Phoenix Suns in 2023's second round, Jokić referred to his running mate as the Nuggets' "best player."

Murray's 43-point explosion on Tuesday gave Denver a 3-2 series lead on the Clippers and evoked memories of the 2023 championship run.

Jamal Murray is a player who's always gotten better in the playoffs. He was the closing shot-maker in the Nuggets' lone 2023 championship run. He averages 24.2 points per game in the playoffs for his career. That's more than Russell Westbrook, Larry Bird, Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, and Tracy McGrady.