MINNEAPOLIS – The best regular season of Jamal Murray’s career was followed by his worst and shortest playoff performance.

“I feel like if I would’ve played a little better, we would’ve had that game,” Murray said after the Nuggets were eliminated Thursday at Target Center. “It’s just frustrating on my part. I’ll take accountability for it. It was a rough night.”

A 4-for-17 night saw Murray finish the six-game, first-round series shooting 35.7% from the field and 26.2% from 3-point range. Those are the lowest marks on a decorated playoff resume. In the regular season, he posted career-best marks from the field (48.3%) and 3 (43.5%) that earned him his first trip to the All-Star Game. He’s also likely to be an All-NBA selection, but he wasn’t at his best when it mattered most.

“I feel for Jamal. We know it can be better,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said.

“I’m sure they’re going to kill Jamal Murray. You’ve all seen what he can do in these games. Tonight was not his night.”

Adelman said the blame doesn’t fall solely on Murray’s shoulders. Denver’s inability to get Jaden McDaniels away from Murray via screens was an issue throughout the series.

“If I play a little better, I think we win the game,” Murray said. “I didn’t, so I take accountability.”

Stars support Adelman

Murray isn’t the only one being criticized by the fan base.

The Nuggets’ coach is probably getting it worse, and his two stars say that’s unjustified.

“It’s not his fault that we couldn’t rebound. It’s not his fault that we could not catch the ball,” Jokic said. “There is nothing to blame David Adelman (for). It was all us.”

Jokic joked that if this had happened in Serbia, everyone would be fired. Fortunately, Denver remains a part of the United States, where he vowed to learn from his first full season.

“There’s things that I thought went really well, and other things I have to reconsider. … If you’re not trying to get better, you shouldn’t be doing it,” Adelman said.

“Very disappointing end of the season. I’m the head coach. I take responsibility for things that didn’t go well here. I think, more importantly, as a group unified, how can we come back next year and be better as a staff, as a team. You look at everything — the training staff, how we communicate. All those things matter to find the best formula possible to move forward.”

His point guard understands it’s a process for everybody.

“He’s still figuring it out and still getting his feet wet,” Murray said.

“It’s a hard job. You’ve got a lot of different personalities you’ve got to think about and game-time decisions.  … It was a great season for him, especially (with) all that we went through. I just wish I could be better for my team tonight.”

Business decisions

Cam Johnson knows the deal.

The 30-year-old was traded to Phoenix soon after he was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2019. A few years later, the Suns sent him to Brooklyn to acquire Kevin Durant. After a couple of seasons with the Nets, he was sent to Denver in the Michael Porter Jr. trade.

“I understand the business side of the business. I’ve been subject to it a few times now,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t come as a shock to me. Whatever those conversations entail and whatever decisions are made, they’re made. That’s that. You’ve got to live with it.”

Johnson might have to live with a one-year stint in Denver. His $23 million contract expires after next season, making it one of Denver’s more appealing contracts should the franchise need to shed salary to retain Peyton Watson, who’s set to enter restricted free agency this summer. If Game 6 was Johnson’s last as a Nugget, he went out on a high note, scoring 27 points on 15 shots with eight rebounds and three assists.

“For me personally, there’s a lot left to be done with this group, but it’s not always in my hands,” Johnson said.