Jamal Murray’s Unusual Interaction with Broadcast Booth Highlights Nuggets’ Loss

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray provided an unusual moment during a game against the Dallas Mavericks, as he captured a fly buzzing around Ball Arena and handed it over to ESPN analyst Doris Burke. This curious event occurred during a pause in play, drawing reactions from the broadcasting team and viewers alike.

ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Breen humorously remarked, «I noticed you weren’t too eager to grab it,» eliciting laughter from Burke as she received the live fly. The situation drew comparisons to former NBA player Manu Ginobili, renowned for his adeptness in swatting a bat mid-game while playing for his team.

This unusual interaction seemed to resonate more than Murray’s performance on the court that night. He recorded a total of 14 points, five rebounds, and a season-high 11 assists. However, his shooting was less successful, as he finished with just 4-of-16 from the field. Despite these struggles, the game remained competitive, with the Nuggets trailing by a slim margin of 99–97 with the fly incident unfolding.

The match concluded with a narrow defeat for the Nuggets, who lost 123–120 to the Mavericks, dropping their record to 8-6. The loss was part of the group stages of the NBA Cup, contributing to the slow season start for both Western Conference teams.

Patrick Andres, a staff writer for Sports Illustrated, covered this peculiar moment, describing the range of questions it raised regarding Murray’s ability to capture the fly and the broader audience’s surprise. Andres joined Sports Illustrated in December 2022 and has diverse experience from various sports publications, including The Blade and Athlon Sports. He is an alumnus of the Northwestern University‘s Medill School of Journalism.