----- Nikola Jokic finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists and Jamal Murray scored 21 points as the Denver Nuggets topped the Portland Trail Blazers 121-120 Thursday night at Moda Center.
Shootout at the O.K. Corral!
Damian Lillard finished with 40 points and 12 assists including 9-of-17 shooting from three-point range, but it wasn't enough as the Denver Nuggets edged the Portland Trail Blazers 121-120 Thursday night at Moda Center.
Jamal Murray scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter including the go-ahead three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining. He connected on 3-of-5 from beyond-the-arc in the final quarter.
Chauncy Billups was visibly frustrated after the game with his team's defense in the final moments.
“It wasn’t handled well at all,” Billups said. “We’re up two. The last shot you can live with is a 3. A 2 don’t beat us. We go into overtime, no big deal. We gave up a 3-point shot. It was terrible.”
The battle in the paint between Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic didn't disappoint. Jokic finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists and Nurkic played his best game of the season scoring 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting.
The Blazers led 99-89 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets fought their way back into the game. Murray cut the deficit to one at 104-103 on a three-pointer with 7:07 to play.
Jokic made a floater put the Nuggets ahead for the first time in the second half at 105-104.
Aaron Gordon's tip-in put the Nuggets ahead 118-117 with 17 seconds left before Lillard's final 3-pointer made it 120-118. After Murray's 3, the Nuggets swatter away Portland's final inbounds pass.
The Nuggets dominated the paint 64-46 and second chance points 22-9 with 16 offensive rebounds.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers will play the first of two at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night at Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Tough shot by Jamal Murray spoils a 40 point and 12 assist performance by Damian Lillard.