NBA playoff tracker: Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets rally to eliminate Blazers
Jokic #Jokic
Welcome to the Yahoo Sports NBA playoff tracker, your daily one-stop shop for all the latest game results from each NBA playoff series. Here’s a look at Thursday’s games.
The Portland Trail Blazers threw shot after shot at the Denver Nuggets all series, but in the end they just didn’t have an answer for Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets eliminated the Blazers in six games on Thursday, winning Game 6 126-115 to end one of the NBA’s most entertaining playoff series. Denver will now advance to face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns in the second round.
It took another big night from Jokic to get there. The presumptive MVP posted 36 points (13-of-22 shooting), eight rebounds and six assists, leading all scorers with his fifth 30-point game of the series.
For nearly three quarters, Thursday’s game had the makings of a familiar story. A raucous Blazers crowd, a Damian Lillard-led team with its back against the wall. The Blazers built up a double-digit lead in the first half, and led by as much as 14 points in the third quarter.
Then Jokic went to work. With 20 third-quarter points, the Nuggets snuffed out the Blazers in a matter of minutes, and ended their season.
Lillard finished with a Lillard-ian 28 points and 13 assists, but it obviously wasn’t enough. He at least made history in the first half with his 35th 3-pointer of the first round, setting an NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a series.
Behind Jokic was a strong night from the Nuggets’ supporting cast. Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 points (including a bonkers six 3-pointers) in the first quarter and finished with 26 points, while Monte Morris has 22 points and nine assists off the bench.
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