Portland (USA), .- Base Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers resisted to be eliminated from the semifinals of the Western Conference and with their triumph by 119-108 against the Denver Nuggets forced the seventh and decisive I find that it will be played next Sunday.
“It was the goal we had set for ourselves and we’re at the start of the heat,” Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “Now everything will be decided on Sunday and we will be prepared to be the best in the field.”
Lillard regained his scoring inspiration and with 32 points, including 17 in the third quarter, when the Trail Blazers broke the score in his favor, he led a list of four players who had double-digit numbers.
The guard C.J.McCollum also reached 30 points, while the reserve Rodney Hood, which is consolidated as the sixth player of the Trail Blazers, responded with another 25.
Power forward Zach Collins, who also came off the bench, managed another 14 with four rebounds and completed the list of the Trail Blazers’ top scorers, looking to reach the Western Conference finals for the first time since the 2000 season.
Base Seth Curry, younger brother of Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, scored a triple with 7:24 minutes left in the game and left him sentenced with a 101-88 run.
When in addition the players of the Nuggets Wills Barton and Torrey Craig received individual technical faults for another one for Collins of the Trail Blazers.
Before being eliminated by personnel, Jokic finished again as leader of the Nuggets to get a double-double of 29 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists with four turnovers.
Canadian baseman Jamal Murray also did a good job with another double-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, which in the end could not compete with the individual work of Lillard.
Meanwhile, power forward Paul Millsap reached 17 points, six rebounds and three turnovers.
Guard Gary Harris and Craig finished with 15 and 10 points, respectively, to complete the list of five Nuggets starters who had double-digit numbers.
The Spanish power forward Juancho Hernangómez did not see action with the Nuggets by decision of his trainer Michael Malone.
The Nuggets lost the first opportunity to get the pass to the Western Conference finals, which have not come since 2009 and have played three times in the history of the Denver franchise.
On Sunday at their Pepsi Center field they will have a new opportunity. The winner will face the winner of the tie between the Golden State Warriors against the Houston Rockets and the two-time league champions dominate 3-2. (EFE)
