Jamal Murray entered the NBA as a combo guard capable of playing either backcourt position. But he’s looking more and more like a true point guard in his seventh NBA season.

Heading into Sunday’s 112-103 win over Portland at Ball Arena, the 26-year-old was averaging a career-high 6.5 assists. Last season, when he posted 6.2 assists per game, was the first time he averaged more than five. In the last two games, Murray has totaled 20 assists against just three turnovers.

“Great number,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Sunday’s game.

Murray, whose career highlights have come as a potent scorer, especially in the playoffs, missed his first three shots in the first quarter of Sunday’s game before he got a 3-pointer to drop late in the first. After going 6 for 25 in the first five quarters of the weekend series against Portland, Murray went 7 for 12 in the final three quarters of Sunday’s game, finishing with 21 points on 16 shots.

“They went zone a majority of last game. Then, yeah, I think I was just trying to get everybody in the right spot more today than last game. That forced them to change their defense, and then from there, they’re a little discombobulated on what they wanted to do. I could tell,” Murray said.

“I’m just playing my game.”

Denver’s starting point guard added 10 assists with just one turnover and grabbed five rebounds with two blocks and a steal in 34-plus minutes of playing time. His last three assists all went to Nikola Jokic, who led all scorers with 29 points.

Two of his final three assists came in the final minute of the third quarter, part of an 11-0 run to close the quarter that gave Denver the lead for good. Murray and Jokic combined for 17 of Denver’s 26 assists.

“Getting Jamal back out there, running Nikola the whole third, that proved to be very productive and fruitful for us tonight,” Malone said.

“When they’re operating and clicking like that, it’s so fun to watch. It’s a thing of beauty, if you’re a Nuggets fan. It’s so hard to guard if you’re an opposing team, because they’re both so capable of scoring, passing, making plays for each other as well as for their teammates.”

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front left, struggles to control the ball as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, right, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

David Zalubowski