DENVER—The Nuggets opened up the game against the Blazers pretty rough, only making 5 3-pointers in the first half and being down by 14 after 2 quarters of play. But they continued to fight, erasing the deficit in the 4th quarter and eventually forcing the game to go into overtime for a second contest in a row. Once they entered the extra period, Denver outscored Portland 12-7 in the 5 minutes of play to win their 5th overtime game this season.
Nikola Jokic was once again the anchor for this Nuggets team, scoring 35 points and adding 14 rebounds and 13 assists, as well as 5 steals and 2 blocks on the defensive end. As Jokic continues to play at such an elite level, it seems like a 4th MVP may very well be in his future. This marks his 33rd triple-double of the season, one shy of his career-high 34, a mark that he set last season. With 3 games left, a new personal best seems more than likely.
Jamal Murray had a bit of a return to form, adding 20 points in the contest, including 7 points in the overtime period to seal the game for the Nuggets. Aaron Gordon also scored 23 points and snagged 9 rebounds to yet again prove how immensely valuable he is to this team.
Cam Johnson scored 17 points, his 3rd game in a row in double figures, signifying the improved consistency in his game, which has been a key factor in the Nuggets’ success lately. Off the bench was backup center Jonas Valančiūnas, scoring 14 points in only 10 minutes of play, as well as Julian Strawther, scoring 11 in 19 minutes.
This Denver team has been incredibly resilient, as at one point during the game, they were down by 18 points, and yet they still always seem to find a way. While another slow start forced some really clutch play down the stretch, when it matters most, the Nuggets have found a way to get it done again.
During the postgame press conference, Head Coach David Adelman said, “…you knew there was a run in us…” referring to the resiliency that has kept the Nuggets in games all season long despite some early-game mishaps.
Denver will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, April 8th, in pursuit of their 10th-straight victory. This team is red hot, and with only 3 contests till the playoffs, they are continuing to improve at exactly the right time.
