Lillard leads 3-point barrage, Blazers beat Nuggets 123-109
DENVER (AP) What had Damian Lillard so excited wasn't his 34 points or 13 assists or how he led Portland's 3-point barrage that sparked the Trail Blazers' win over the undermanned Denver Nuggets in their playoff opener Saturday night.
It was holding NBA MVP front-runner Nikola Jokic to a single assist. That's something no opponent had done all year against the Nuggets superstar center who averaged a career-best 8.3 assists this season.
''It was huge,'' Lillard said after Portland's 123-109 victory. ''We know when they're at their best, he's setting the table, he's dominating the game as a playmaker and he's scoring and he's kind of having his way.
''A guy as good as he is, an MVP candidate - the MVP in my opinion - you know that he's going to play well,'' Lillard added. ''You know he's going to do what he does but you got to try to take something away.''
Jokic matched Lillard's scoring output, but wasn't nearly the same facilitator.
''I couldn't get the other guys involved,'' Jokic lamented. ''They made me work for it on every possession.''
The Blazers hit 19 of 40 shots from beyond the arc, and Lillard, sporting silver sneakers that were a fitting choice for his sterling performance, had five of them.
Subs Carmelo Anthony and Anfernee Simons added four each as the Blazers outscored Denver by 24 points from beyond the arc.
''To be honest, I think we could've shot the ball even better,'' Portland coach Terry Stotts said.
They were plenty good on this night.
''I talked about it quite a lot during the week, can we guard the 3-point line?'' Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. ''Too many breakdowns.''
CJ McCollum added 21 points and Anthony scored 18 in his first playoff game against the team that drafted him 18 years ago.
Anthony, who forced his way out of Denver a decade ago, learned in the locker room afterward that this marked his first win as a visitor at Ball Arena, which used to be called the Pepsi Center.
''Great time to make it happen,'' Anthony said.
Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 25 points for Denver but was just 1-for-10 from long range, and Aaron Gordon added 16 points.
Game 2 in the series is Monday night.
Anthony provided an early spark for Portland with 12 points in the first quarter.
''He gave us the boost that we needed,'' Stotts said.
And the boos that fueled 'Melo.
''This will always be a special place for me regardless of the boos,'' Anthony said.
It was Lillard who took over after halftime, scoring 15 points in the third quarter when he sparked a 32-13 run by the Blazers that turned a nine-point deficit into a 96-86 lead.
''For the last week, this is all I've been thinking about,'' Lillard said. ''We've had a whole week to prepare for this and get ready for Game 1. We prepared hard. I wanted to win the game. I want to win the series.''
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: The teams hadn't played in six days, since Portland's 132-116 home win over Denver on May 16 allowed the Blazers to avoid the play-ins. ... Anthony made four of his first five 3-point attempts. ... Portland outshot Denver 19-8 from the foul line and hit 18 free throws to Denver's four.
Nuggets: The crowd of 7,732 was the largest of the season. Previously, crowds at Ball Arena were capped at 4,050 during COVID-19 restrictions. ... Porter shot 44.5% from 3-point range this season. ''They just weren't falling tonight,'' he said.
COACH MURRAY
Jamal Murray returned from L.A., where he's been rehabbing from his ACL surgery, to cheer on his Nuggets teammates.
''Jamal's a leader of this team whether he is playing or not,'' Malone said. ''He can't score a point for us, but he can provide a lot of other things.''
After shooting baskets before the game, Murray took the mic and addressed the crowd before tip-off.
''Man, I wish I was hooping,'' he said as he fired up the crowd at the Nuggets' first home playoff game since May 12, 2019, when they lost Game 7 of their second-round series to Portland.
Also out for the Nuggets were Will Barton (hamstring) and PJ Dozier (hip).
FAMILIAR FACES
Although the Nuggets lost that classic seven-game series two years ago that included a historic 140-137 four-overtime loss to Portland in Game 3, there's no payback vibe in Denver.
''It can't be a rallying cry when a bunch of your guys weren't here for it,'' Malone said. ''Remember the Alamo! The Alamo? I wasn't here for that.''
---
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jusuf Nurkic vs. Nikola Jokic (Aaron Gordon gains possession) | |||
11:41 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
11:39 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
11:38 | Aaron Gordon misses two point putback layup | |||
11:37 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
11:28 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
11:27 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | Aaron Gordon misses two point driving layup | |||
11:17 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
11:17 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point putback layup | 0-2 | |
11:00 | CJ McCollum misses three point turnaround jump shot | |||
10:58 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
10:49 | Austin Rivers misses three point jump shot | |||
10:45 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | +2 | Robert Covington makes two point dunk (Damian Lillard assists) | 2-2 | |
10:09 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point reverse layup | 2-4 | |
9:51 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point finger roll layup (Damian Lillard assists) | 4-4 | |
9:44 | Norman Powell personal foul (Facundo Campazzo draws the foul) | |||
9:30 | Aaron Gordon misses two point jump shot | |||
9:26 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
9:25 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot | 4-6 | |
9:06 | Damian Lillard turnover (bad pass) (Facundo Campazzo steals) | |||
8:49 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point layup | 4-8 | |
8:31 | Norman Powell misses two point driving dunk | |||
8:28 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
8:25 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:22 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
8:20 | Jump ball. Aaron Gordon vs. Robert Covington (Facundo Campazzo gains possession) | |||
8:15 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point dunk (Facundo Campazzo assists) | 4-10 | |
7:57 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 7-10 | |
7:45 | +3 | Facundo Campazzo makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 7-13 | |
7:28 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point floating jump shot | 9-13 | |
7:13 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
7:11 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
7:08 | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
7:05 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Norman Powell steals) | |||
6:49 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point finger roll layup (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 11-13 | |
6:35 | Austin Rivers misses three point jump shot | |||
6:32 | Facundo Campazzo offensive rebound | |||
6:28 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point layup (Austin Rivers assists) | 11-15 | |
6:14 | Austin Rivers blocks Jusuf Nurkic's two point jump shot | |||
6:11 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:09 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point finger roll layup | 11-17 | |
6:09 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
5:56 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:53 | Robert Covington offensive rebound | |||
5:45 | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point driving layup | 13-17 | |
5:33 | CJ McCollum shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
5:33 | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:33 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
5:33 | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:30 | Robert Covington defensive rebound | |||
5:22 | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | |||
5:19 | Facundo Campazzo defensive rebound | |||
5:03 | Aaron Gordon misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
5:01 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
4:51 | Facundo Campazzo shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
4:51 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-17 | |
4:51 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-17 | |
4:36 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot | 15-19 | |
4:25 | Facundo Campazzo personal foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
4:18 | Monte Morris shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | |||
4:18 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-19 | |
4:18 | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-19 | |
4:02 | Jusuf Nurkic personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
3:54 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 17-22 | |
3:31 | Carmelo Anthony misses two point jump shot | |||
3:28 | Enes Kanter offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | Enes Kanter misses two point putback layup | |||
3:31 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
3:13 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround hook shot | 17-24 | |
2:58 | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 20-24 | |
2:35 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround jump shot | 20-26 | |
2:21 | +3 | Carmelo Anthony makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 23-26 | |
1:55 | Nikola Jokic misses two point jump shot | |||
1:54 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
1:45 | +3 | Carmelo Anthony makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 26-26 | |
1:33 | Monte Morris turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:17 | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point jump shot (Robert Covington assists) | 29-26 | |
0:59 | +2 | Markus Howard makes two point jump shot (Paul Millsap assists) | 29-28 | |
0:38 | +2 | Carmelo Anthony makes two point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 31-28 | |
0:38 | JaMychal Green shooting foul (Carmelo Anthony draws the foul) | |||
0:38 | +1 | Carmelo Anthony makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 32-28 | |
0:30 | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point jump shot | 32-30 | |
0:11 | +3 | Carmelo Anthony makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 35-30 | |
0:04 | Damian Lillard personal foul (Monte Morris draws the foul) | |||
0:00 | Markus Howard misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | CJ McCollum misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:40 | Enes Kanter offensive rebound | |||
11:39 | +2 | Enes Kanter makes two point turnaround hook shot | 37-30 | |
11:25 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point fadeaway jump shot (Paul Millsap assists) | 37-33 | |
11:05 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
11:01 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
10:51 | Anfernee Simons misses three point jump shot | |||
10:48 | Monte Morris defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point layup | 37-35 | |
10:33 | JaMychal Green personal foul (Carmelo Anthony draws the foul) | |||
10:21 | CJ McCollum misses two point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Markus Howard defensive rebound | |||
10:13 | JaMychal Green misses three point jump shot | |||
10:08 | Carmelo Anthony defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Enes Kanter offensive foul (Paul Millsap draws the foul) | |||
10:04 | Enes Kanter turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:48 | Paul Millsap turnover (lost ball) (Carmelo Anthony steals) | |||
9:43 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point floating jump shot | 39-35 | |
9:31 | Monte Morris misses two point jump shot | |||
9:30 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
9:22 | Paul Millsap misses two point reverse layup | |||
9:21 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
9:16 | +3 | Paul Millsap makes three point jump shot (JaMychal Green assists) | 39-38 | |
8:57 | +3 | Carmelo Anthony makes three point jump shot (CJ McCollum assists) | 42-38 | |
8:43 | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point jump shot | 42-40 | |
8:27 | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | |||
8:23 | Norman Powell offensive rebound | |||
8:22 | Norman Powell turnover (bad pass) (Paul Millsap steals) | |||
8:16 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point finger roll layup (Monte Morris assists) | 42-42 | |
8:00 | Carmelo Anthony misses three point jump shot | |||
7:57 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:46 | Monte Morris misses two point jump shot | |||
7:45 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Paul Millsap personal foul (CJ McCollum draws the foul) | |||
7:25 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point floating jump shot | 44-42 | |
7:00 | Nikola Jokic misses two point jump shot | |||
6:57 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
6:50 | +3 | Damian Lillard makes three point jump shot | 47-42 | |
6:34 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point dunk (Facundo Campazzo assists) | 47-44 | |
6:23 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:20 | Paul Millsap defensive rebound | |||
6:12 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Paul Millsap assists) | 47-47 | |
5:45 | Carmelo Anthony misses three point jump shot | |||
5:42 | Markus Howard defensive rebound | |||
5:35 | +2 | Markus Howard makes two point finger roll layup | 47-49 | |
5:35 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
5:19 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point dunk (Norman Powell assists) | 49-49 | |
5:01 | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
5:01 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-50 | |
5:01 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-51 | |
4:47 | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point floating jump shot | 51-51 | |
4:47 | Trail Blazers delay of game violation | |||
4:30 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
4:28 | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | |||
4:18 | Austin Rivers defensive rebound | |||
4:12 | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
4:08 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
4:08 | Nikola Jokic misses two point jump shot | |||
4:08 | Facundo Campazzo offensive rebound | |||
4:02 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 51-53 | |
3:46 | Norman Powell misses two point jump shot | |||
3:44 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
3:35 | Robert Covington blocks Aaron Gordon's two point reverse dunk | |||
3:32 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point reverse layup | 51-55 | |
3:05 | Norman Powell misses two point finger roll layup | |||
3:03 | Austin Rivers defensive rebound | |||
2:50 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround jump shot | 51-57 | |
2:34 | Aaron Gordon blocks Damian Lillard's two point alley-oop layup | |||
2:32 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Aaron Gordon misses two point layup | |||
2:26 | Robert Covington defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | +3 | Damian Lillard makes three point step back jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 54-57 | |
1:49 | Anfernee Simons shooting foul (Austin Rivers draws the foul) | |||
1:49 | Austin Rivers misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:49 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
1:49 | +1 | Austin Rivers makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-58 | |
1:29 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point finger roll layup (Damian Lillard assists) | 56-58 | |
1:29 | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
1:29 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:27 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
1:14 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
1:12 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
1:04 | Michael Porter Jr. blocks CJ McCollum's two point driving layup | |||
1:01 | Monte Morris defensive rebound | |||
0:59 | +3 | Austin Rivers makes three point jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 56-61 | |
0:41 | CJ McCollum misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:38 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
0:33 |