Denver get pass the Blazers and enter the Semifinals

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Bikram Jirel

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The Denver Nuggets faced off the Portland Trail Blazers for Game 6.

After an epic battle between them in Game 5.

The Blazers looked to tie the series after being unable to do so in Game 5 even after forcing overtime two times.

And on the other hand, the Nuggets looked to close out the game with a win.

The Blazers started the game strong, scoring bucket after bucket.

But in the end, the Nuggets took the win behind Nikola Jokic’s brilliant scoring.

The Nuggets eliminated the Blazers, defeating them 126-115 and taking a 4-2 series lead to enter the Western Conference Semifinals. 

Nikola Jokic led the scorers with his brilliant shooting while Damian Lillard led the Blazers’ scorers despite the loss.

The Blazers start strong.

Damian Lillard had a great first quarter even set a playoff record. He got the NBA teammate of the Year award before the game.

The first quarter started with the Nuggets trailing the Blazers with as much as four points with 7:10 remaining in the quarter.

Then Michael Porter Jr dropped a three-pointer cutting the lead into two halfway into the quarter.

And he added another three-pointer to take the lead.

But the Blazers took the lead back and were three-point ahead before Porter added another three-pointer to tie the game with 3:20 remaining.

The Nuggets trailed the Blazers with four points, scored 29 points in the quarter while the Blazers had 33 points in the first quarter and

In the second quarter, the Blazers were with five points lead over a minute into the game.

As CJ McCollum dropped a dunk, extending the lead to seven points.

They were 45-47 halfway into the quarter as Nikola Jokic tied the game at 47-47.

Norman Powell came up with a reverse layup and the Blazers took six points to lead with 3:37 remaining in the second quarter.

Anfernee Simons dropped a three-pointer leading to 18-8 runs and the Blazers with 8 points lead.

Lillard came up with a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

They continued to dominate the Nuggets in the second quarter as well adding 35 points in the second quarter while the Nuggets added 32 points.

And continued to take the lead at the start of the third quarter, taking 11 point advantage with 8:09 remaining in the quarter.

CJ McCollum extended the lead to 14 points, dropping a three-pointer.

They were 79-91 with under five minutes left in the third quarter as McCollum came up with a jumper next.

The Nuggets made a comeback.

But with Nikola Jokic’s brilliant shooting, the Nuggets made a comeback. 

Jokic answered back with a dunk cutting the lead right back.

They were 95-101, the Blazers still in the lead. But Monte Morris dropped a three-pointer at the Buzzer for the Nuggets.

Subsequently, the quarter ended 98-101, the Blazers with only a three-point lead as the Nuggets ended the quarter with a 14-4 run.

The Blazers still with a four-point lead with 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

As Monte Morris dropped a three-pointer, cutting the lead to a point.

Jokic then came up with a three-pointer on the next possession, giving the Nuggets a two-point lead.

They were 110-108 as Morris dropped a floater.

The Blazers trailed the Nuggets by six points and Austin Rivers dropped a three-pointer, extending the lead to 9 points.

Jokic knocked down a hook shot and took the double-digit lead.

They were 119-113 with under two minutes left to play. Jokic subsequently dropped a bucket.

Aaron Gordan then sealed the game with a three-pointer from the corner on Jokic’s pass and taking 9 point lead with under a minute left to play.

The Blazers had no answer for Jokic’s offense as a result the Nuggets took the 126-115 win and eliminated the Blazers entering the Western Conference Semifinals.

“I love our team. I love every player in that locker room, one through seventeen,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We continue to find ways to win. Last year, this year, people don’t realize what we’re missing right now with injuries, so I couldn’t be more proud of a group of players that I truly love coaching every single day.”

They will now face the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Scoring highlights.

Nikola Jokic led the scorers, dropping 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. 20 of his 36 points came in the third quarter.

“He’s everything for them,” Damian Lillard said of Jokic. “I think if it was any year a guy like him, what he does for that team, could lead his team to a championship, it would be this year because of how open it is. There’s no favorite. In my eyes, at least, I feel like anybody can get beat, and anybody can go get it done. That’s why it’s even more disappointing for me because I felt like if there’s any year you can shoulder the load and go get one, it was this one. I definitely think he’s capable of it.”

He once again showed MVP level performance, as the Nuggets made a comeback in the second half behind his brilliant shooting.

“That’s why he’s the clear-cut MVP,” Malone said. “Because you can take anybody away from our team, if we have Nikola, you could put me, Wes Unseld, Ryan Bowen, Charles Klask, whoever you want out there, we’re going to find a way to compete because that’s how great he is.”

When asked about the comeback Porter simply answered, “Getting stops and Nikola Jokic.”

The Nuggets players stepped up their game to help Jokic.

Jokic received help from other Nuggets players in the process. One of them coming from Michael Porter Jr.

Porter dropped 22 points in the first quarter when Jokic caught in foul trouble, keeping the Nuggets into the game.

He then finished the game, scoring 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

After Nikola found his rhythm in the third quarter, he received help from Monte Morris, Austin Rivers, Aaron Gordan, and JaMychal Green in the second half.

“We got a lot of dudes that are tough players, man,” Porter said. “Like me, I had my moment in the first half and then I cooled off. I don’t think I scored [the rest of the game]. Then Jokic obviously took over, but the way Austin and AG had their moments, and Monte, J-Myke — we just have a lot of dudes that are capable.”

Aaron Gordan dropped 13 points, 7 rebounds, and four assists along with the game-sealing three-pointer in the final minute.

Facundo Campazzo had 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Monte Morris led the Nuggets bench, scoring 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists.

While JaMychal Green dropped 10 points, 9 rebounds.

The historic performance of Damian Lillard comes to an end this season.

Damian Lillard dueled current MVP candidate Nikola Jokic throughout the series to give NBA one of the best playoff games of this season.

He forced two overtime in Game 5 with a clutch three-pointer and almost defeated the Nuggets in that game.

And tonight he even set an NBA playoff record.

The Nuggets rushed to close out the series in Game 6 to avoid another clutch game from Lillard.

“Nobody is trying to see Damian Lillard, one of the clutches players ever, in a Game 7,” Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said.

Lillard finished the game, scoring 28 points and 13 assists double-double along with 4 rebounds.

He had 35 threes in the first round of the playoffs and become the player with the most three-pointer ever in a playoff series.

While CJ McCollum dropped 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Norman Powell had 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists while Jusuf Nurkic dropped 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Robert Covington finished with 10 rebounds and 11 points double-double.

Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony dropped 14 points along with 5 rebounds, and 4 assists all coming off the bench.

Bikram Jirel
Bikram Jirel

Bikram Jirel

Bikram Jirel is a versatile editor and writer with a deep-seated passion for sports and storytelling. With a keen understanding of audience preferences and trends, he crafts compelling narratives that captivate readers and offer unique perspectives on the world of sports.

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Bikram brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as an editor and writer. He is committed to delivering high-quality content that educates, entertains, and inspires readers, driving the publication's mission to be a trusted source of sports news and insights.

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