CJ McCollum stepped up in a big way on Sunday afternoon to help the Portland Trail Blazers take down the Denver Nuggets on the road in Game 7 of their second-round series. The veteran guard finished with 37 points and nine rebounds in a stunning performance that pushed the Blazers into the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2000.
His consistent ability to get buckets was crucial for the Blazers -- even more so with Damian Lillard struggling -- and that included a clutch step-back jumper with 12 seconds left to give them a three-point cushion. But his best play may have come on the defensive end.
With under five minutes to play, the Blazers were clinging to a four-point lead when Nikola Jokic secured a rebound and tossed a perfect outlet pass to Jamal Murray. It seemed like the young guard would have an easy two points, but McCollum had other ideas. He raced back and swatted Murray's layup attempt off the backboard.
CJ HUSTLES BACK FOR THE DENIAL! 👀#RipCity 87#MileHighBasketball 83
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2019
4:26 to play on #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/xueD0FVjWV
It was an incredible play by McCollum, and an important one as well to keep the Blazers' lead at four points -- in a neat coincidence, they went on to win by the same margin.
After the game, McCollum was asked about the key play and joked that he was channeling "my boy [LeBron James] from the 330." Both McCollum and LeBron are from Akron, Ohio, and though he was in part joking, there was some merit to his comments. The stakes weren't quite as high, nor was his play quite as impressive, but it was absolutely reminiscent of LeBron's incredible block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
Blazers' CJ McCollum on his Game 7 chasedown block vs. Nuggets: "I just went and got it, Bron style. Shout out to my guy Bron from the 330. It was a mini version of Bron's block on Iggy. I definitely didn't get up as high. I might get a picture of that one. Hang that joint up." pic.twitter.com/cCwA1pya4N
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 12, 2019
"The King" agreed, giving McCollum a shoutout after the game on Twitter and declaring that his favorite play was the chasedown block.
Oh and you know my favorite play was that chase down block! ✋🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 13, 2019
If having a huge performance in a Game 7 win on the road wasn't enough, getting co-signed by the best player in the league is a perfect way to complete McCollum's brilliant Sunday.