The Nuggets misplaced 128-109 towards the Portland Path Blazers Friday night on the Moda Heart after having led at halftime.
Nikola Jokic missed his third consecutive match with accidents within the elbow and ankle whereas the staff continued to prioritize his well being earlier than the playoffs. He performed the 2 accidents as lately as final Saturday towards Wizards in Ball Enviornment.
Now, the Nuggets (44-27) should board an extended flight to Houston, the place they are going to face second-place Rockets on Sunday to complete a four-game highway journey. Denver stays in fourth place within the West Friday night with defeat.
No apologies on glass
The Nuggets gave the impression to be on the verge of a flight initially of the primary quarter, when Gordon imposed his will inside and arrived on the line of fault. However Portland organized a fast race of 10-0 to determine the tone for a backwards and forwards case. As he was 19-19 years outdated, the Blazers already had eight second probability factors. They had been on the best way to complete the evening with 26, together with an offensive rebound dam throughout an enormous race within the third quarter.
A nasty rebound may be an occasional facet impact to play small, which Michael Malone did with Gordon within the middle in a 3 guards’ beginning coaching. However the excuse merely had no legs on this match, in these circumstances. The facilities of Portland Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III and Deandre Ayton had been all inactive, which signifies that the Blazers didn’t use a participant bigger than 6 ft 9 inches of their rotation.
The margin was virtually completely an effort.
Protection of the purpose of assault
Nuggets can change extra when Gordon is 5, however Portland spammed them with pick-and-rolls and attacked matches in a single day. From high to backside of the rotation, Denver had bother conserving in thoughts the Blazers received 64-42 within the portray, an space that the nuggets normally dominate. Lots of the second probability factors they’ve returned had been straightforward cleansing buckets after linear readers.
Deni Avdija collected 36 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists for Portland. Shaedon Sharpe added 23 factors regardless of a match 1 per 10 past the arc.
Russian ups and downs
RUSSLL WESTBROOK RIM PRESSURE was one of the best type of nugget offense within the first half. He led them with 15 factors to the break on solely six capturing makes an attempt, simply getting down as a substitute of being glad with riders. When he did it, he invited the contact and pulled hearth errors.
However Denver performed him a bit an excessive amount of with Jamal Murray who apparently relaxes with a twisted ankle, which made him miss the 2 earlier video games. The Blazers began accelerating Westbrook within the third quarter, and the sport grew to become uncontrollable for Denver. He dedicated 9 seasonal reversals, together with three offensive faults. He pulled 1 of seven on the sector after half-time and led the staff in tried complete capturing with 13. Murray, Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. took 10 every.
The Nuggets have coughed 20 instances as a staff.
