{"id":795268,"date":"2019-04-28T17:28:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-28T23:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/nuggets-and-blazers-series-features-jokic-against-lillard\/"},"modified":"2019-04-28T17:28:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-28T23:28:00","slug":"nuggets-and-blazers-series-features-jokic-against-lillard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/nuggets-and-blazers-series-features-jokic-against-lillard\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuggets and Blazers series features Jokic against Lillard"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.9103006407097\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-365171-316\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pulls in a rebound as San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White defends in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32.jpg\" alt=\"Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pulls in a rebound as San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White defends in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pulls in a rebound as San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White defends in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | The Oregonian | Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard watches his game-winning three-pointer as Oklahoma City Thunder' Paul George defends, to beat the Thunder 118-115 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Lillard finished with a franchise playoff-record 50 points and Portland eliminated Oklahoma City from the postseason. (Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian via AP)\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"10\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-1.jpg\" alt=\"Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard watches his game-winning three-pointer as Oklahoma City Thunder' Paul George defends, to beat the Thunder 118-115 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Lillard finished with a franchise playoff-record 50 points and Portland eliminated Oklahoma City from the postseason. (Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian via AP)\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"15\">\n<p><strong>Portland Trail Blazers&#8217; Damian Lillard watches his game-winning three-pointer as Oklahoma City Thunder&#8217; Paul George defends, to beat the Thunder 118-115 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Lillard finished with a franchise playoff-record 50 points and Portland eliminated Oklahoma City from the postseason. (Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian via AP)<\/strong><br \/>AP | The Oregonian<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | The Oregonian | Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard shoots the game-winning three-pointer to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-115 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Lillard finished with a franchise playoff-record 50 points and Portland eliminated Oklahoma City from the postseason. (Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian via AP)\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-2.jpg\" alt=\"Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard shoots the game-winning three-pointer to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-115 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Lillard finished with a franchise playoff-record 50 points and Portland eliminated Oklahoma City from the postseason. (Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian via AP)\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Portland Trail Blazers&#8217; Damian Lillard shoots the game-winning three-pointer to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-115 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Lillard finished with a franchise playoff-record 50 points and Portland eliminated Oklahoma City from the postseason. (Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian via AP)<\/strong><br \/>AP | The Oregonian<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone argues for a call against the San Antonio Spurs late in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 90-86 to advance to the second round against Portland. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-3.jpg\" alt=\"Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone argues for a call against the San Antonio Spurs late in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 90-86 to advance to the second round against Portland. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone argues for a call against the San Antonio Spurs late in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 90-86 to advance to the second round against Portland. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, front, dunks the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee defends in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 90-86 to advance to the second round against Portland. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"10.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-4.jpg\" alt=\"San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, front, dunks the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee defends in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 90-86 to advance to the second round against Portland. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"16\">\n<p><strong>San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, front, dunks the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee defends in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. The Nuggets won 90-86 to advance to the second round against Portland. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR159426 AP | Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts smiles in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, April 21, 2019, in Oklahoma City. Portland won 111-98. (AP Photo\/Alonzo Adams)\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\" readability=\"9\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Spurs_Nuggets_Basketball_44737-12c32-5.jpg\" alt=\"Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts smiles in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, April 21, 2019, in Oklahoma City. Portland won 111-98. (AP Photo\/Alonzo Adams)\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts smiles in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, April 21, 2019, in Oklahoma City. Portland won 111-98. (AP Photo\/Alonzo Adams)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR159426 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/nuggets-and-blazers-series-features-jokic-against-lillard\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/nuggets-and-blazers-series-features-jokic-against-lillard\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">DENVER \u2014 The Joker versus Dame. Versatile big man against prodigious scorer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They are two big reasons why Denver and Portland are meeting in the Western Conference semifinals as the series begins Monday in the Mile High City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nikola Jokic: The 7-foot, do-it-all center for the Nuggets who guided them to a Game 7 victory over San Antonio with another triple-double.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Damian Lillard: The gifted shooter who lifted the Blazers to a series win over Oklahoma City by erupting for 50 points in Game 5, including the game-winner at the buzzer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A featured attraction in what should be a formidable series.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cDamian Lillard right now is playing at another level,\u201d Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Same with his guy, who\u2019s nicknamed The Joker because he\u2019s constantly filled with surprises.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cCouldn\u2019t be happier for Nikola, couldn\u2019t be prouder for Nikola,\u201d said Malone, whose second-seeded squad advanced in the postseason for the first time in a decade. \u201cBecause all of his hard work has allowed him to go on the national stage and hopefully people take notice of what he\u2019s doing, because it\u2019s been remarkable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jokic followed up his All-Star season with a playoff debut for the ages. He averaged 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists against the Spurs. In Game 7 on Saturday, Jokic was completely drained after playing more than 43 minutes and posting his second triple-double of the series during a 90-86 win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI think the team expected me to do something,\u201d Jokic said. \u201cSo I was just trying to go out there and play my best basketball possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Lillard averaged 33 points in the Thunder series. His backcourt mate, CJ McCollum, chipped in 24.4 points.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cA lot of people thought they would beat us,\u201d Lillard said of the Thunder. \u201cWe answered the call in the first round. We did what we were supposed to do. We handled our business. We dominated the series. I think that\u2019s what feels the best \u2014 we were sharp in everything that we did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">One thing the third-seeded Blazers have on their side heading into Round 2: rest. The Blazers were off for two days and practiced for two before flying to Denver early Sunday. Blazers coach Terry Stotts compared getting up to speed on short notice to cramming for a test.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Then again, they know each other well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Denver had a 3-1 advantage over Portland in the regular season. The Blazers could be without Enes Kanter, whose status for the second round of the playoffs remains uncertain because of a shoulder injury. They\u2019re already missing Jusuf Nurkic after he broke his leg in an overtime victory at home over the Brooklyn Nets on March 25.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Here are things to know going into the series:<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">THE TRADE<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">On Feb. 13, 2017, Denver sent Nurkic to the Blazers as part of a deal for Mason Plumlee. It\u2019s a trade that\u2019s benefited both teams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nurkic helped the Blazers to the playoffs in \u201817 and again last season. He was averaging 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds this season before being hurt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For Denver, the trade allowed the team to run the offense more through Jokic, who\u2019s blossomed over the past three seasons. Plumlee has been a valuable backup for Denver as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In another deal, the Nuggets acquired guard Will Barton from the Blazers in 2015.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">THIRD TIME\u2019S A CHARM<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Blazers and Nuggets are meeting for a third time in the postseason, with both winning one series. Denver beat Portland 3-1 in the first round in 1986, while Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas led the Blazers to a 4-2 series win in 1977 on their way to an NBA title.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">MOVING ON<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Since making the Western Conference finals in 2009, the Nuggets have been eliminated in the first round on four occasions. This was their first playoff appearance in six seasons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe knew we were a special team,\u201d Gary Harris said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">NO PLACE LIKE HOME<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Nuggets went an NBA-best 34-7 at home in the regular season. The noise helped in Game 7, with the arena so loud that Spurs players couldn\u2019t hear coach Gregg Popovich imploring his team to foul in the waning seconds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cOur fans have shown up and made this an incredibly difficult place to play,\u201d Malone said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">YOUNG AT HEART<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Nuggets are the youngest team in the West side of the bracket with an average age of 24.9 years. Portland is right behind at 25.6.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s just basketball,\u201d said Denver guard Jamal Murray, who\u2019s dealing with a sore shoulder and leg.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/nuggets-and-blazers-series-features-jokic-against-lillard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pulls in a rebound as San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White defends in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)AP | AP Portland Trail Blazers&#8217; Damian Lillard watches his game-winning three-pointer as Oklahoma City [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-795268","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-15 01:12:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=795268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/795268\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=795268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=795268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=795268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}