Patrick Beverley Claims Defensive Dominance Over Jamal Murray in 76ers’ Victory

In the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent victory over the Denver Nuggets, the spotlight shone on the marquee matchup between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. However, an under-the-radar guard battle unfolded, featuring a noteworthy defensive performance from Patrick Beverley against Nuggets star Jamal Murray.

Murray, held to just 17 points in the game, failed to score when defended by Beverley, according to the NBA’s matchup data. Beverley guarded Murray on 18 possessions, resulting in zero points and two turnovers for the Nuggets guard.

When questioned about his success in shutting down Murray, Beverley confidently remarked, “No key. I’ve been locking his ass up for years.” The statement reflects Beverley’s self-assuredness in his ability to contain the Nuggets star, a matchup he claims to have won consistently over the years.

Having spent a significant portion of his career in the Western Conference, Beverley has faced Murray frequently in both regular-season and postseason contests. According to NBA matchup data since the 2018-19 season, Beverley has limited Murray to a field goal percentage of 44.4% in their individual matchups. While not an abysmal efficiency, it falls slightly below Murray’s career average from the field.

Known for his fearless and competitive demeanor, Beverley isn’t shy about taking shots at his opponents. In this instance, he emphasized his belief that he has been successfully locking down Murray for years, a sentiment echoed by his performance in the recent game against the Nuggets.