Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2, GAME 3: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - MAY 3, 2019 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM , ESPN

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
DENVER NUGGETS
54 - 28
(20-21 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
53 - 29
(32-9 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

JAMAL MURRAY VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

GARY HARRIS VS CJ McCOLLUM

SF

TORREY CRAIG VS MAURICE HARKLESS

PF

PAUL MILLSAP VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

NIKOLA JOKIC VS ENES KANTER

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------- JERSEYS -------

---

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PDT), FRIDAY, 5/3/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

---- DENVER NUGGETS ----

THOMAS , MORRIS

BEASLEY , BARTON , VANDERBILT

HERNANGOMEZ , LYDON , LYLES

PLUMLEE , WELSH

-- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS --

CURRY , SIMONS , HOOD

TURNER , TRENT Jr. , LAYMAN

LABISSIERE , COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
NUGGETS
Jamal Murray (right thigh injury): PROBABLE
Torrey Craig (nasal contusion): PROBABLE
Michael Porter Jr. (low back surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (right ankle sprain): QUESTIONABLE
Enes Kanter (separated left shoulder): PROBABLE
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg injury): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MICHAEL MALONE--- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

SEASON SERIES NOTES

• Denver won the season series against Portland in 2018-19, 3-1. All four games were decided by single digits.
• In four games against the Nuggets, Damian Lillard averaged 21.3 points (37.1% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 95.8% FT), 3.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Lillard shot 23-of-24 from the free-throw-line against Denver this season.
• CJ McCollum averaged 20.0 points (45.3% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three games against the Nuggets this season.
• In four games against the Nuggets, Al-Farouq Aminu averaged 16.0 points (50.0% FG, 31.6% 3-PT, 94.7% FT), 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.00 steal. His 16.0 points per game was his highest scoring average against a Western Conference opponent this season.
• Nikola Jokic averaged 25.7 points (62.0% FG, 38.5% 3-PT, 76.9% FT), 9.7 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.00 steal in three games against the Trail Blazers this season.

PLAYOFF SERIES NOTES
• Portland and Denver have faced each other twice previously in the postseason, with each team winning one series.
• The Trail Blazers and Nuggets are 5-5 against each other in the playoffs, all-time.
• The Trail Blazers defeated the Nuggets 4-2 in the 1977 NBA Western Conference Semifinals despite Denver holding home court advantage. Portland won the NBA Championship that year.
• The Nuggets took a five-game first round series vs. the Trail Blazers in 1986, 3-1.
• Former Trail Blazers Will Barton and Mason Plumlee have playoff experience with the Trail Blazers. Barton averaged 6.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 11.6 minutes in six games during the 2014 postseason vs. Houston and San Antonio. Plumlee posted averages of 7.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.00 block and 27.8 minutes in 11 starts vs. the LA Clippers and Golden State in 2016.
• The series is only Portland’s second playoff matchup against a divisional opponent since facing the Lakers in 2002 as members of the Pacific Division. Entering this postseason vs. divisional rivals Oklahoma City and Denver, the Trail Blazers had never faced a Northwest Division opponent since the division was formed in 2004-05.

CONNECTIONS
• Portland center Jusuf Nurkic averaged 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 139 games (59 starts) in two-plus seasons with the Nuggets. Nurkic was acquired by the Trail Blazers in exchange for Mason Plumlee and a 2017 first round pick on Feb.13, 2017. Plumlee averaged 9.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 136 games (all starts) across two seasons in Portland.
• Denver guard Will Barton was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 40th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 144 games (five starts) in two-plus seasons with Portland.
• Trail Blazers forward/center Skal Labissiere and Denver guard Jamal Murray were teammates at the University of Kentucky for the 2015-16 season.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN THE SERIES
GAME #1: LOSS 113-121


GAME #2: WIN 97-90

​

 

[Darkwebs]

NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET

As of 5/1/2019

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Blazers have won 11 straight games in Portland. Please make it a dozen after this match!

 

[Rhal]

Awesome game thread as usual Darkwebs. Lets protect our HC and take it one game at a time. Also FU Refs in advance.

 

[Haakzilla]

Let's rip city their mother fuckin' souls out in this game!

 

[Portland2014]

Let's hope it's nothing serious for Harkless, even though he struggled offensively he's key defensively, we really need him disrupting passing lanes and rebound the ball, especially on the defensive glass.

I wonder if Labissiere could be useful in this series.

 

[DaLong]

No McCollum? What did I miss?

 

[DaLong]

Also, Maurice*

 

[KingSpeed]

Whatcha doin DW? Hood instead of CJ?

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

Whatcha doin DW? Hood instead of CJ?

Fantasy Booking.

 

[crandc]

Blazers have won 11 straight games in Portland. Please make it a dozen after this match!

13

 

[kjironman1]

Breaking News!

Rodney Hood takes CJ McCollum's starting spot!

In other news there is a possible typo in the Game thread?

 

[kjironman1]

Tickets to this game are ridiculous.
You can get them yes. But the resale market is really expensive.

 

[BonesJones]

Tickets to this game are ridiculous.
You can get them yes. But the resale market is really expensive.

Usually it's more expensive for round 1.

 

[illmatic99]

I impulsively booked a trip to SF for Memorial Day weekend.

Guessing that's around Game 5 of WCF-- I'll be in Oracle.

Edit: Dear Universe, don't spite us for my jinx.

 

[andalusian]

No McCollum? What did I miss?

Did @hcp hack @x-wing's account. sly! help.

 

[tlongII]

Tickets to this game are ridiculous.
You can get them yes. But the resale market is really expensive.

True, and it's interesting because you can get game 4 tickets at much better prices. At least you could as of Tuesday.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

 

[kjironman1]

Usually it's more expensive for round 1.

Right now you can get $95 plus tax to get very top of 300 level. So well over $100 plus parking and anything else you are $200.
My usual seat choice is hovering around $500 plus.
I have Comcast so probably not gonna see it live this weekend.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Right now you can get $95 plus tax to get very top of 300 level. So well over $100 plus parking and anything else you are $200.
My usual seat choice is hovering around $500 plus.
I have Comcast so probably not gonna see it live this weekend.

Yeah, my entertainment budget is doing about as well as my knees are. If there's a game 6 I may be able to convince my wife to let me go.

 

[kjironman1]

Yeah, my entertainment budget is doing about as well as my knees are. If there's a game 6 I may be able to convince my wife to let me go.

My problem is more with paying that much for 300 level. You end up watching most of the game on the monitor which i can do at home. The live and in the Moda part is exciting but watching the game is not better than my living room. When i have 200 or 100 level tickets there is no question the experience is better.

 

[Hoopguru]

Let's hope it's nothing serious for Harkless, even though he struggled offensively he's key defensively, we really need him disrupting passing lanes and rebound the ball, especially on the defensive glass.

I wonder if Labissiere could be useful in this series.

I think he could be. Post him up down low and let him drive and get Jokic in foul trouble.

 

[illmatic99]

Damn this is crazy, both teams getting out the same time:

 

[Hoopguru]

Perfectly played and we will see more of that.

 

[blue9]

This poll question is being asked far too early.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I liked when they had the "audio assist" in game 2 to showing Denver bench and Malone's voice was cracking like a 13y old going through harsh puberty

 

[Hoopguru]

Yeah, my entertainment budget is doing about as well as my knees are. If there's a game 6 I may be able to convince my wife to let me go.

Take care of those knees son!

 

[illmatic99]

Kevin McHale is awful. If this commentating is any indication, he ain't getting any other coaching gig. His solution to everything is "just get to the basket."

 

[Minstrel]

I never see Mike Malone playing Evan Turner, so I'll take him as the better coach.

 

[blue9]

Kevin McHale is awful. If this commentating is any indication, he ain't getting any other coaching gig. His solution to everything is "just get to the basket."

Sounds like he could fill in for Terry...