Jamal Murray scores career-high 55 points, Nuggets go into All-Star break on 8-game win streak

When Jamal Murray is feeling cocky enough to play to the crowd, it doesn’t matter how many bodies the Nuggets are missing.

Murray scored a career-high 55 points, and the Nuggets went into the All-Star break on an eight-game win streak with a 132-121 victory over Portland on Wednesday night.

Down four rotation players, Denver (36-19) led by as many as 23 before Chauncey Billups’ Blazers pulled within single digits in the fourth quarter, while Murray was stuck on 49 points. But the 27-year-old guard eclipsed 50, his previous career-high, on a floater with 7:50 to go, and the Nuggets held off Portland’s advances.

Murray made 20 of 36 shots from the field and 7 of 15 from 3-point range. He added five assists and a pair of steals, not committing a turnover until the fourth.

After burying back-to-back 3s out of a double-drag screening action late in the first half, he backpedaled to the defensive end while gesturing with his right hand for an increase in volume. Ball Arena obliged, but only gradually, until Murray cupped his hand to his ear asking for more. He shimmied into the huddle

His finishing at the rim recently has been a polished circus act. His latest act was an over-the-head layup in transition. But his perimeter finishing hasn’t been shabby, either. He’s 40% from outside the arc since Dec. 1, a span including seven 30-point outings.

Nikola Jokic went into the break — for everybody except him — with his 25th triple-double of the season. He amassed 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Christian Braun stayed in rhythm with another complete performance, going for 21 points, 10 boards, six assists, two steals and a block.

With forwards Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. out, Michael Malone started Zeke Nnaji at the four and used Dario Saric as a backup. Saric has primarily played center this season. The win on Wednesday marked his first minutes with Jokic.

After spending a month in fourth place in the West, the Nuggets have passed Houston and nearly caught up to Memphis. They have the same record going into the break that they had last season, which ended with a franchise record 57 wins.

“Last year, we were just fried from winning the championship, I think mentally, physically, emotionally,” Malone said pregame. “The short offseason, which I think is what you want in this business. … Different team. We’re leaning on a lot of guys that have not played a lot of playoff basketball. And at the moment, they’re all taking advantage of that opportunity, which has been fun to watch. But every year is a different team. … This is this year’s team, and we’re kind of charting our own course.”

Westbrook likely to return after break

Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook should be set to return from a left hamstring strain after the All-Star break, Michael Malone said Wednesday.

Westbrook, 36, missed Denver’s last seven games before the break.

“Everything’s pointing forward to him being able to use this break, use this stretch of games when he’s been out rehabbing, to come out of the break and be active and be available,” Malone said.

Westbrook is averaging 13 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 27.7 minutes per game. He suffered the injury two games after Malone chose to leave him in the starting lineup, replacing opening-day starter Christian Braun. When Westbrook signed with the Nuggets last offseason, he joined as their new sixth man and backup point guard.

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