LAS VEGAS -- Jamal Murray got Damion Lee on his hip, drained a jumper and then began talking trash to his old college rival.

It might not have been Kentucky-Louisville inside Cox Pavilion, but Murray and Lee were treating Monday’s Summer League matchup like it was -- and both team’s benches certainly enjoyed the back and forth.

“We’re both competitors,” Murray said. “I respect his game and we just went at it today.”

All eyes were on Murray, the No. 7 overall pick out of Kentucky, after he struggled in the first two exhibition games of his young career. He played much better against Miami, scoring 29 points in the Denver Nuggets' 92-81 loss.

Wildcats coach John Calipari enjoyed watching Murray’s performance, and he obviously thinks highly of his former player as evidenced by his postgame tweet.

Murray’s potential is obvious. He scored in a variety of ways on Monday, hitting floaters and a pair of 3-pointers. Late in the game, he drove, spun and dished to big man Petr Cornelie for a layup.

“I’m just trying to get a feel for the 1 and the 2,” Murray said, “and just knowing what shots I’m going to get. It’s different going from college to the NBA. There’s more space and a faster pace, so I’m just trying to find my shots.”

Projected Nuggets backcourt starters Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris did not play on Monday, enabling Murray to have the ball in his hands on most possessions. But he’s going to have to adjust to playing off the ball with those guys on the floor, something he has to improve on.

Fortunately, he’s 19. There’s plenty of time for that.

“He’s a great kid,” veteran teammate Jimmer Fredette said of Murray. “We’ve become good friends over these last few weeks working out with each other, and I’m just trying to encourage him and continuing to tell him it might take a little bit of time at first, but you’re going to get it and you’re going to be a great player so continue to work hard and don’t worry necessarily about the makes and the misses.

“Just find your game, feel confident in it and the shots are going to fall because you’re a great shooter.”