Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from Game 6 win vs. Nuggets

The Portland Trail Blazers have forced a Game 7 in their semifinal series of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. Here are three takeaways from this crucial victory.

The Portland Trail Blazers have staved off elimination. They defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-108 Thursday night at the Moda Center in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinals series. The series is now tied 3-3, with Game 7 set for Sunday in Denver.

It will be the Blazers’ first Game 7 since the first round of the playoffs in 2003. Portland lost that decisive game to the Dallas Mavericks, 107-95. Historically, the Blazers are 1-2 in Game 7s. Their lone win came in the 1990 semifinals over the San Antonio Spurs.

Game 6 began with Denver in control. The Nuggets jumped out to a 24-14 lead with 3:58 left in the first quarter and maintained a 34-26 lead after one period. However, the Blazers used a 32-20 second quarter to swing the game in their favor by halftime.

The contest remained tight for much of the third quarter, with a Nikola Jokic 3-pointer making it 76-75 with 4:33 remaining. Fifteen seconds later, Damian Lillard struck back with a 31-foot trey of his own to make it 78-76 and kick off a 12-4 run to close the quarter. Portland would push its lead to as many as 14 in the fourth quarter and hold steady until the final buzzer.

Lillard led the way with 32 points and five assists. CJ McCollum followed up with 30 points, six rebounds and three assists. Rodney Hood had a playoff career-high 25 points, while Zach Collins added 14 and five blocks. Enes Kanter only had six points, but pulled down 14 rebounds. Jokic paced Denver with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Jamal Murray had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Portland responded well to its Game 5 loss and now the stage is set for a Game 7 in the Mile High City. Here are three takeaways from Thursday’s big win.