DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray earned his first career All-Star berth in his ninth NBA season Sunday.

“When I saw that, so many things went through my mind, just multiple 50-point games, multiple 50-point games in the playoffs," Nuggets coach David Adelman said ahead of Denver's showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“Let's see, triple-double in the Finals, NBA champion, most wins in the West over the last 10 years, he's the point guard of that team, 55-point (game) last year, (career-high) 17 assists (in a game) this year, NBA All-Star,” Adelman added. “So, in my mind, all of those things make sense, except for the one that was missing. So, maybe All-NBA, maybe he'll be considered.”

Murray and Nikola Jokic, who was named a starter last week, are the first pair of Nuggets teammates selected to an All-Star Game since 2010 when Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups both made it.

This year's All-Star Game is at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, next weekend.

Murray, 28, is averaging career highs in points (25.8), shooting percentage (49.2), 3-point percentage (44.7), rebounds (4.3) and assists (7.4) this season while leading the Nuggets through an injury epidemic that has sidelined Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas, among others.

Murray helped the Nuggets navigate the loss of Jokic for 16 games during which they went a surprising 10-6 to keep pace in the Western Conference.

Murray has already topped 30 points 13 times this season, besting his previous career mark of 11, and he's one of a dozen players in the league to score 50 or more points in a game this season. He also has 11 games with double-digit assists, marking a career single-season high.

Last month, Murray won Western Conference Player of the Week (Dec. 8) honors for the first time in his career, and he and Jokic are two of the five NBA players averaging 25 points, seven assists and four rebounds per game.

Murray showed up to training camp in better physical shape this year, and Adelman said he also arrived with a sharper mind.

“Your body is at its best when it's not just the physical part, it's your mind,” Adelman said. "And he's played the game so clean. ... I think it's his body, but I also think it's his mind. He's just not fighting anything, he's just playing. And the guy's so talented, when he takes what's given to him, so much success can happen.

“Everything about him this year has been really fun to watch and watching him grow up and to have this moment for him, long time coming and he'll represent our team well in Los Angeles.”

A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Murray was the seventh overall selection in the 2016 NBA draft out of Kentucky.

Sebastian Rancik, Isaiah Johnson help Colorado beat TCU 87-61 to end 6-game losing streak

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Sebastian Rancik had 17 points, Isaiah Johnson scored 16 and Colorado cruised to an 87-61 victory over TCU on Sunday, snapping a six-game losing streak.

Rancik came off the bench to sink 6 of 8 shots — 3 of 4 from 3-point range — for the Buffaloes (13-9, 3-6 Big 12 Conference). He added six rebounds and three assists. Johnson made 5 of 11 shots with three 3-pointers, adding five assists.

Reserve Bangot Dak scored 14 on 7-for-8 shooting for Colorado. Josiah Sanders totaled 12 points and six assists, while Barrington Hargress scored 10.

Xavier Edmonds had 13 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Horned Frogs (13-9, 3-6). All four of his double-doubles this season have come in the past four games.

Colorado made 8 of its first 11 shots and got baskets from seven different players in the first eight minutes but managed only a 20-17 lead because TCU came out shooting at a 50% clip — 6 for 12.

Colorado had the lead over the final 12:15 of the half but didn't push its advantage past two possessions until Sanders' three-point play made it 30-21 with 4:27 remaining. Sanders and Rancik both had eight points by halftime as the Buffaloes extended their lead to 38-25. TCU got no closer than 10 after the break.

Colorado made 35 of 63 shots (56%) to TCU's 33% effort (21 for 63). The Buffs hit 48% from beyond the arc — 11 for 23. The Frogs made 5 of 23 from distance (21.7%).

Colorado finished with 24 assists. TCU had eight assists and made only 15 of 51 shots in the final 32 minutes.

Up next

 

Colorado: At Baylor on Wednesday.

TCU: Hosts Kansas State on Saturday.