Five years ago today, on August 23, 2020, the NBA world witnessed one of the greatest scoring duels in playoff history when Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets went head-to-head in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round. It was more than just a basketball game; it was a display of heart, resilience, and talent that elevated both players into the national spotlight. The duel became one of the defining moments of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, and to this day, it is remembered as a classic that showed the beauty of basketball at its purest form. To understand why that game holds such a legendary status, one has to revisit the context, the performance itself, and the legacy it left behind for both players and their franchises.
The 2020 NBA Playoffs were unlike any other. The season had been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing a four-month suspension before the league regrouped in Orlando, Florida, for the NBA Bubble. Games were played without fans inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. Though the absence of live crowds initially raised concerns about energy and intensity, players quickly proved that competition would not suffer. If anything, the bubble created a unique atmosphere where players could focus solely on basketball, leading to some unforgettable performances. One of the most memorable battles of that stretch came between two young guards: Donovan Mitchell, a third-year star for the Utah Jazz, and Jamal Murray, a fourth-year rising force for the Denver Nuggets.
The Jazz and Nuggets entered the playoffs as the No. 6 and No. 3 seeds, respectively. Despite the seeding, their matchup was expected to be competitive. Denver boasted a talented core with Murray and Nikola Jokić, while Utah leaned heavily on Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and a disciplined system under head coach Quin Snyder. The series quickly lived up to expectations, with both teams trading blows in a tightly contested battle. By the time Game 4 arrived, the Jazz held a 2–1 series lead, and Denver was in desperate need of a win to avoid falling into a daunting 3–1 hole. It was in this must-win atmosphere that Mitchell and Murray delivered a duel for the ages.
From the opening tip, it was clear that both players were locked in. Mitchell had already established himself as the focal point of Utah’s offense, and in Game 4 he seemed determined to put his team in control of the series. He attacked relentlessly, scoring from deep, mid-range, and at the rim with a confidence that electrified his teammates. Murray, however, refused to let Denver fade away. Shot after shot, he answered Mitchell, often with contested jumpers or difficult drives that seemed almost impossible to finish. Each time Mitchell gained momentum, Murray responded, turning the game into a personal showcase of offensive brilliance.
By the end of the night, Mitchell had erupted for 51 points, while Murray countered with 50 of his own. It was the first time in NBA playoff history that two opponents scored at least 50 points in the same game, and it instantly etched itself into the league’s history books. Beyond the sheer scoring totals, it was the way they scored that made the duel so captivating. Mitchell played with a fierce energy, mixing three-point daggers with fearless attacks to the rim. He looked every bit like a franchise cornerstone, willing his team forward with each possession. Murray, on the other hand, exuded calm under pressure. His shooting stroke was pure, his confidence unwavering, and his ability to create offense out of seemingly nothing reminded many of the great clutch scorers in NBA history.
The duel wasn’t just about numbers; it was about intensity and the psychological warfare of competition. Both players carried their teams’ hopes on their shoulders, and the back-and-forth nature of the game made it feel as if the outcome hinged on who would blink first. The Jazz ultimately prevailed 129–127, giving them a 3–1 series lead, but the real story was the epic performances that kept fans glued to their screens. Even in the bubble setting, with no fans in the arena, the game radiated an energy that made it unforgettable.
Looking at Mitchell’s performance, it symbolized his ascension as the clear leader of the Jazz. His 51 points came on 15-of-27 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and he added 7 assists while constantly putting pressure on Denver’s defense. He had already scored 57 points in Game 1 of the series, setting a Jazz playoff record, but his Game 4 masterpiece reinforced the idea that he was one of the league’s premier young stars. Mitchell’s ability to balance scoring with playmaking underlined his growth and maturity, proving he was ready to carry the responsibility of a franchise player.
On the other side, Murray’s 50-point performance was a breakthrough moment for his career. Before the bubble, Murray was considered a talented but inconsistent guard, someone who had shown flashes of brilliance without fully establishing himself as a superstar. That perception changed during this series. Against Utah, Murray tapped into a new level of scoring, confidence, and leadership that would eventually propel Denver deeper into the playoffs. His 50 points in Game 4 came on an efficient 18-of-31 shooting, with 9 made three-pointers that left the Jazz defense helpless at times. He displayed an ability to rise to the occasion, proving he could thrive on the biggest stage.
The duel between Mitchell and Murray had historical significance beyond just the numbers. It represented a new era of NBA stars ready to carry the torch. At the time, both players were under 25, and their performances sparked conversations about the league’s bright future. In many ways, their duel was reminiscent of classic battles from NBA history, drawing comparisons to Larry Bird vs. Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 playoffs or Allen Iverson’s scoring explosions in the early 2000s.
Though Utah won Game 4 and went up 3–1, Denver would storm back to win the series in seven games, making history as the first team in NBA history to come back from multiple 3–1 deficits in the same postseason. Murray continued his scoring tear, delivering 42 points in Game 5 and an unforgettable 50 in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7. Denver’s comeback was one of the defining stories of the 2020 playoffs, and it cemented Murray’s status as a clutch performer. Meanwhile, Mitchell’s heartbreak after the series was visible, but his performances throughout the matchup elevated his reputation across the league. The image of Mitchell slumped on the floor after the Game 7 loss, only to be consoled by Murray, captured the mutual respect born out of their epic duel.
In the years since that series, the legacy of that Game 4 duel has only grown. Fans and analysts still point to it as one of the greatest individual battles in NBA playoff history. Both players saw their careers shaped by that moment. Mitchell went on to become a perennial All-Star, later joining the Cleveland Cavaliers and continuing to prove himself as one of the league’s elite scorers. Murray, though slowed by injuries in the years that followed, returned to form and played a crucial role in helping the Denver Nuggets win their first NBA championship in 2023 alongside Nikola Jokić. His performances in that championship run were a reminder of the version of Murray the world saw in the bubble.
