Following the Denver Nuggets’ Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the latter team’s head coach, Chris Finch, made headlines for comments on Jamal Murray.
Finch accused Murray of being a foul-baiter. The comments came after the Nuggets had a lopsided advantage in free throw totals, taking 33 compared to Minnesota’s 19. For Murray, he led the game with 16 free throws taken.
The star guard made every single one, scoring more than half of his 30 points from the charity stripe.
GettyDENVER, CO – OCTOBER 22: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets looks up during a timeout in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena on October 22, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
“The 16 free throws from Murray is a head-scratcher, you know?” Finch told reporters after the game.
“I thought we played really good defense on him,” Finch added. “A lot of those ones in the second quarter, we were there, and we were physical and vertical. He initiated the contact. He spills away and gets rewarded for it.”
But it wasn’t just Murray that Finch was critical of. The superstar center Nikola Jokic caught a stray from the head coach as well.
“Jokic does the same thing. We got to be solid around that. But 16 free throws is a lot. 16 free throws is almost as many as we shot all game.”
Nikola Jokic’s Numbers Were Down
GettyDENVER, CO – APRIL 4: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets scores against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs in overtime at Ball Arena on April 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Nuggets won the game 136-134 in overtime. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Unlike Murray, almost all of Jokic’s scoring came from the field. He shot an efficient 11-19, making two out of his seven threes.
Jokic only went to the charity stripe for one shot throughout his 40-minute shift.
The superstar center finished the game with 25 points. He accounted for a triple-double, producing 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
Throughout the five games that Jokic played the Timberwolves, just one lopsided free-throw shooting game stands out for the veteran center.
Back on Christmas Day, the Nuggets and the Timberwolves engaged in an overtime battle. Jokic played for 42 minutes, and during that time, he took 23 free throws. He ended his 56-point game by getting 26 of his points from the free-throw line.
The Nuggets Took Care Of Business
GettyDENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 24: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets plays the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter at Ball Arena on October 24, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Outside of the free throws, the Nuggets simply handled business in every way on Saturday for Game 1. It was a solid victory for Denver, which put down the Timberwolves with a 116-105 win.
The Nuggets have taken a 1-0 lead, picking up their fourth win out of five games against the Timberwolves this season. Game 2 will take place on Monday, April 20.