Jamal Murray went ballistic in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday in Denver, lighting Phoenix up for 34 points and nine assists while burying six triples in a Nuggets victory.
The point guard scored 20 points in the second half alone, as a Phoenix team many consider to be the title favorite had no ability to slow him down.
That performance made Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s defensive showing against Murray in Round 1 all the more impressive.
Murray certainly had plenty of signature moments against the Timberwolves, as well. The guard scored 40 points in Game 2, and helped finish off Minnesota with a 35-point showing in Game 5. He has been stuck in a flame-throwing gear throughout the postseason.
But it’s worth noting Game 2 was the lone contest Alexander-Walker didn’t start for the Wolves, and much of Murray’s damage throughout the series was done when someone else was defending him.
Murray shot just 36% from the field in the series when guarded by Alexander-Walker, per matchup data on NBA.com. The Denver guard shot 53% when defended by anyone else. That’s the type of elite defensive impact you’d expect from a player of Jaden McDaniels’ caliber. But with McDaniels sidelined with a broken hand, Alexander-Walker stepped into that role. In fact, McDaniels said he learned from watching his teammate.
“He was teaching me. We play differently. He did a good job of showing his hands; he wasn’t getting a lot of fouls from that,” McDaniels said. “So I kind of picked that up from him. Overall, him guarding everyone, he did a great job.”
McDaniels usually uses his length to frustrate opponents, while Alexander-Walker was a physical presence. A tactic the guard started in Minnesota’s play-in victory over Oklahoma City, Alexander-Walker picked up his primary matchups full court, and lived in their pockets for the duration of each and every possession.
He held his cousin — Thunder All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — to just 2-for-14 shooting in their matchup in the play-in game, and made Murray’s life equally as difficult.
Alexander-Walker certainly has the physical tools to be an elite defensive weapon with his 6-foot-6 frame and 6-9 wingspan, but what made him stand out this postseason was his relentlessness.
That trait was evident on and off the floor. In game action, Alexander-Walker would navigate four or five screens a possession, as Denver desperately tried to get Murray enough breathing room to get a shot off.
Alexander-Walker said he learned about the “power of the mind” in the series. He would use trash talk as motivation. If Murray scored, the wing would take it personally. He found every possible edge to keep himself going for 40-plus minutes.
“How can it better me? Not getting discouraged. Not getting in my own head,” Alexander-Walker said. “There’s really no time for that.”
Between each contest, Alexander-Walker committed himself to rest and recovery. He was often in a cold tub or a bed, recouping as much energy as possible for the next battle. The “work” he did in those downtimes involved copious amounts of film breakdowns. Alexander-Walker studied tendencies and trends of every potential Denver matchup to give himself the best chance of defensive success.
“I’m just focused on all personnel clips, making sure that I know everybody like the back of my hand. That’s one of the reasons why I’m out there. I’m definitely going to give the team the best version of myself as I can. That’s what they’re putting me out there to do. That’s my job. I have to make sure I’m doing my job,” Alexander-Walker said during the series. “Make sure that whatever I’m doing, they might make tough shots, but as long as I know I’m doing the right thing. What we are willing to live with, I’m making sure we’re not getting beat by the things we’re trying to avoid.”
That’s the type of mentality possessed by everyone on a championship-level team. Building such a roster isn’t easy, but it helps to have examples others can follow. It also helps to have wing depth, particularly in the playoffs.
Alexander-Walker gave Minnesota both at the tail end of the season. Timberwolves basketball boss Tim Connelly admitted he didn’t see it playing out that way when the 24-year-old wing was acquired as essentially a tacked-on piece of the deal that brought Mike Conley to Minnesota.
“I thought he did great job. We’d love to have Nickeil here for a long time,” Connelly said. “I thought his defensive versatility and just toughness was a great addition to our team, and hats off to him and hats off to Finchy for kind of giving him some firm rope and letting him play into a really impactful role.”
Alexander-Walker is a restricted free agent this offseason. His contract negotiation will be an interesting one. Because the wing’s value heading into the postseason wouldn’t have been too high. But he proved in the playoffs that he could be an integral piece of the organization’s build moving forward.
Connelly said Minnesota will look to add more IQ this offseason. Finch talked about the need for two-way players. Alexander-Walker is capable of checking both boxes.
How much a six-game sample size will impact a player’s worth remains to be seen. Minnesota — or one of the 29 other organizations who can offer Alexander-Walker an offer sheet that the Wolves could then match — will determine that.
And if the wing doesn’t like any contracts on the table, he can play next season on a one-year, $7 million qualifying offer the Wolves are sure to extend, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Alexander-Walker has already stated his willingness to stick with the Wolves long term, but dollars offered this offseason will also need to make sense. Regardless of who he suits up for next season, the wing seems to have found a formula that sets himself up for success for years to come.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that I’ve been given after all I’ve been through, but I know it can be taken away again,” Alexander-Walker said. “For me, it’s continuing to work. To be appreciative of anything that comes my way, because I’m living the dream. I remember being 8 years old on my Fisher Price (hoop) set dreaming of making shots in the playoffs. I did that. So just keep going from there, and never letting that dream die.”
