Jamal Murray went bonkers. Are the Nuggets the next Warriors?

The 21-year-old Jamal Murray — AKA Maple Curry, AKA Steph Murray, AKA the Blue Arrow — dropped 48 on the highly rated Boston Celtics defense on Monday in a huge Denver Nuggets win. Murray went 5-of-11 from deep and out-dueled a sizzling Kyrie Irving down the stretch. Murray had 19 in the fourth on 8-12 shooting.

The Nuggets are now 9-1. They have beaten both the Warriors and Celtics, the preseason picks for NBA Finals combatants. They’ve done much of it without crucial Will Barton and still plan to get him and Isaiah Thomas on the court by midseason. They have a young, dope core centered on Nikola Jokic, Murray, Gary Harris, and, maybe eventually, Michael Porter.

Are they the next Warriors?

They aren’t nearly as revolutionary as the Warriors were, and Murray obviously still isn’t the shooter Curry became. But the Nuggets are hecka good and have a long developmental runway. There’s reason to be excited. This might be the best core the franchise has had ... ever. Jokic is one of a kind and Murray is absolutely fearless.

They may not be the next Warriors, but they could certainly be the team that dethrones them in the next year or two.

Heat 120, Pistons 115 (OT)
Rockets 98, Pacers 94
Cavaliers 100, Magic 102
Bulls 116, Knicks 115 (2OT)
Pelicans 116, Thunder 122
Celtics 107, Nuggets 115
Raptors 124, Jazz 111
Grizzlies 101, Warriors 117
Timberwolves 109, Clippers 120

On National TV:
Wizards at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Best League Pass Late Night Stress Watch When You Need a Break From Election Returns:
Bucks at Blazers, 10 p.m. ET

Full schedule here.

Red alert: Russell Westbrook sprained his ankle by stepping on Anthony Davis’ foot. I need protective bubbles around both guys, immediately. Thunder have won five straight, by the way.

Word to Larry Drew for finessing the Cavaliers’ need for stability into some extra money (including a small salary guarantee for next year). Coaches ought to do this more.

That said, the Cavaliers melted down like a sugar cube on a hot plate against the Magic on Monday. Up five with 42 seconds left. Lost to an Evan Fournier buzzer beater.

I wrote about how Jimmy Butler, a top-15 player, is ruining his team’s season.

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NBA players are working to get out the vote.

For American readers: I’m not going to be the 1,001st person to tell you to vote. I’m going to be the 1,001st, 1,002nd, 1,003rd. Vote. Vote. Vote. We have GMIB readers in undemocratic countries who would die for a chance to be heard at the ballot box. We have ancestors who did die for a chance at democratic representation. Vote. (1,004th.)

Note: this plea should not be construed as a dismissal of the reality that many states in our union make it very difficult to vote. That’s a real issue for many! If it’s not an issue for you because you live in a state with a more robust franchise, don’t borrow that excuse.

Word to Roger Angell. Word to Steve Kerr.

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The G League is going to throw 200 games on ESPN+.

Alfonzo McKinnie has been a revelation for a team in no need of revelations.

How Bismack Biyombo plans to help the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Be excellent to each other.