Jamal Murray matches Steve Nash record with 48 points

Canada's Jamal Murray simply got caught up in the moment when he hoisted a long shot with the clock winding down.

He took some heat for it. No disrespect meant, he maintained.

Murray, from Kitchener, Ont., scored a career-high 48 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, and the Denver Nuggets overcame a sluggish start to beat the Boston Celtics 115-107 on Monday night.

The point guard knew he was on from his first jumper — a deep 3-pointer. He realized he might have ruffled some feathers with his last — an even deeper 3 in an effort to score 50.

"My emotion took over as it normally does when I get going like that," Murray explained.

Murray was feeling it all night, hitting 19 of 30 shots, including five 3s. He had two attempts to reach 50 points in the final seconds, but missed a reverse layup and then that 3 at the buzzer — one that bothered the Celtics with the game already decided.

Murray tied Steve Nash's record for most points in a single game by a Canadian. Nash had 48 in a May 2005 playoff game. The most points by a Canadian in a single regular-season game was previously 47, by Andrew Wiggins on Nov. 13, 2016.

"What kind of competitor wouldn't it bother? I was (mad), but we're not going to make a big thing about it," said Kyrie Irving, who scored 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting. "But congratulations to him on 48 points. He did it in a great fashion."

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said the veterans on his team talked to Murray about the late shot.

"He's young. He's still learning," Malone said. "You never want to try to disrespect anybody. It wasn't disrespect. He was trying to get to 50 points."

At 9-1, the Nuggets are earning a measure of respect around the NBA as they're off to their best start since 1976-77. They're 6-0 at home, including wins over Golden State and now Boston.

"We've accomplished nothing," Murray said. "Keep trusting each other and get the job done."

Denver spotted the Celtics an 18-point lead in the first quarter but quickly made up ground behind Murray, who scored 23 in the first half.

In a matchup between two of the league's top defences, it was offence that ruled on this night.

More specifically, Murray.

He took over the game in the fourth quarter, hitting a pair of 3-pointers to give the Nuggets some breathing room. The Celtics even tried to double-team him.

It didn't work.

"He was rolling," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "He got a couple of easy ones out of the gate that I think made him feel good. He deserves credit."

The Nuggets needed a big game from Murray because the Celtics found some rhythm. Malone knew it was just a matter of time before a streaky Boston offence started consistently knocking down jumpers. He was just hoping it would happen after Monday.

"Their offence is trending in the right direction," Malone said. "Couple that with their defence, which can be suffocating at times, and that's what makes them such a dangerous team — a team that's going to go very, very deep in the playoffs."