The Denver Nuggets went into their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday with a little twist. For reasons that are still undisclosed, head coach Mike Malone decided to bench point guard Jamal Murray.

While the reason for Murray's benching is still unknown, the second-year man acknowledged the fact that it was deserved, according to Gina Mizell of the Denver Post

“Coach did what he had to. I put him in a tough position, and he made the right decision to bring me off the bench.”

The move certainly came as a surprise considering Murray has started in every game so far in the 2017-18 NBA season. As a result, it seems the delayed debut versus the Mavericks had a severe impact on his performance early on after going scoreless in the first half.

Fortunately, Murray was able to bounce back in the second half to finish with 15 points, five assists, and five rebounds. More importantly, the Nuggets managed to edge out the Mavericks with a clutch 91-89 victory to get a three-game winning streak going.

That said, it remains to be seen whether Murray's punishment was just a one-time thing or a temporary solution to whatever trouble he got in. If the Nuggets are to have any hope of keeping their streak alive, they will likely need Murray to return to the starting lineup as soon as possible.

Denver called on shooting guard Will Barton to take his place as the starter. However, he managed to finish with just 11 points and five rebounds in the win.