NBA Playoffs: plump nuggets

Denver – Match 2 is one thing in the past.

After An eruption of historical proportions By Oklahoma City Thunder, the Denver Nuggets resumed their composure and their shape on Friday in a victory of 113-104 in overtime in match 3 of the semi-finals of the West Conference.

Denver rallied from a deficit of 56-51 at halftime, and Aaron Gordon struck a pointer of 3 with 26.7 seconds to equalize the match at 102.

The finalists of the MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić each had the chance to win him in regulations, but Gilgeous-Alexander missed a Floater and the Jokić reversal jumper released the rim at the expiration of time.

Jokić responded with a lay-up to open up extensions that sparked a nugget race 7-0 and sent Ball Arena to a frenzy. Michael Porter Jr. followed Jokić's bucket with a 3, and Jamal Murray gave the Nuggets an advance of 109-102 on a rapid development of a turnover of Thunder.

A Thunder team that looked like global drummers in match 2 was over. Gilgeous-Alexander fought on the section, totaling three points in the fourth quarter and extension, while the nuggets took control. And the best NBA team of the regular season did not find an answer in overtime.

Nuggets maintain the advantage of the court at home that they stole the Thunder with a dizzying compared to match 1.

The nuggets bounce back big loss

The Nuggets' victory arrived on the heels of the defeat of 149-106 on Wednesday against Oklahoma City which saw the Thunder establish a record for qualifying series with 87 points in the first half. But the margins of victory do not matter in the large diagram.

The candidates for MVP Nikola Jokić (15) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not have their best games on Friday evening in Denver. (Photo of Aaron Oniveroz / The Denver Post)

(Aaron Ontivieroz via Getty Images)

Denver's two points victory in match 1 and the nine points in match 3 is enough to overcome the debating 43 Oklahoma City points for control of the series on the head n ° 1 of the Western Conference.

“It's just a defeat,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman, before Friday match on match 2. “I know they broke records or something else. But it's 1-1. I didn't feel embarrassed. I had the impression that they were playing very well, and we played badly. And it is sport, and sometimes it happens.”

Michael Porter Jr. presents himself

Helred by a persistent shoulder injury while she was struggling on the road, Michael Porter Jr. succeeded in total in the 1 and 2 games in Oklahoma City. Back in Denver, he returned as an impact player while totaling 21 points and eight rebounds and pulling 5 out of 3.

The playoffs to wear have so far been a case of celebration or famine, and it has often been on the bench of Adelman in pressure situations when it had trouble. But this was not the case on Friday evening. Porter led the nuggets at halftime with 15 points, punctuated by its hot distance shot.

He then trusted Crunch Time, and that brought his fruit with his pointer to 3 overtime that helped flow the Thunder.

Porter said that he had taken Lidocaine injections to numb shoulder pain and that he did it again on Friday to approach what he said was initially diagnosed as an injury of 4 to 6 weeks. He always feels limited to be “able to completely play physical guys or work the way I would like”. But he was able to find his shot when Denver needed the most.

“I knew there would be games where I could not produce as I wanted, or maybe I could not do it, but these are the playoffs, and I wanted to go there and at least try,” said wearing. “It was qualifiers from top to bottom for me, but it's okay, because we are in a good position in a team.”

Denver's support distribution overcomes Jokić struggles

Oklahoma City managed to put Murray and used active hands inside to limit Denver's looks near the basket and keep Jokić under control. It worked on Friday evening. The Thunder forced 14 nuggets and agitated Jokić for a large part of the game.

Jokić finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. But he pulled 8 out of 25 in the field, including an effort of 0 per 10 of 3 The worst of his career in playoffs. He overturned the ball more than eight times, also a worst career playoff series.

But the nuggets overcome these difficulties, thanks in part to a night of hot shooting of 3 (16 out of 40, 40%) which was punctuated by carrying.

“The way they keep – and that is why they are one of the best defensive teams in the League, they are one of the best I have ever seen,” Adelman said after the match. “They remove the painting. So we have to be able to drop open shots. And when Michael makes shots, it obviously makes the court much larger or feels much larger.”

In the end, the production of Porter was part of a balanced rating effort which saw four starts Nuggets mark 20 points and more. Murray finished with 27 points on 9 shots out of 19, and Gordon collected 22 points, going 4 out of 6 on a 3 -point beach.

Aaron Gordon is used to hitting the playoffs. (Photo of Aaron Oniveroz / The Denver Post)

(Aaron Ontivieroz via Getty Images)

Gordon goes back up the clutch again

The 3 -point pointer from Gordon to force the extensions followed his winning dunk and defeating the buzzer to sink the Los Angeles clippers in match 4 of the series of Denver's first round and his 3 points winning at 3 points to sink the Thunder in match 1.

CLUTCH Gordon becomes a central theme of these qualifying series.

“AG, he must have the angels with him,” said Gordon after the match. “I'm so proud of him.”

Murray credited the big blows from Gordon to his preparation and his dedication.

“I just think he is always ready and obviously he puts the work to get there,” said Murray. “It is really a testimony to his whole life of demonstration, to be ready for that, to think about it, dreaming.

“And when it's time to go, you have done everything to prepare for these kinds of moments. AG is still ready for the moment.”

Thunder, Sga looks vulnerable

After a campaign of 68-14 in the regular season, there were moments in these playoffs when the ascent of the Thunder at the NBA champions seemed inevitable. Oklahoma City opened the playoffs with A 51 -point battery from the Grizzlies in which he flirted with the greatest margin of victory in the history of the playoffs.

Then there was the 43 -point victory on Wednesday against a Nugget team with a nucleus that won an NBA championship only two seasons ago. But for the second time in three games, it is the end of the game balance of Denver that turned out to be the difference. The result is a series that nuggets now control.

Oklahoma City was likely to take control on Friday. But Gilgeous-Alexander has repeatedly taken disputed shots that have rebounded on the edge. Gilgeous-Alexander pulled 1 out of 8 in the fourth quarter and extension, including an effortless effort during the additional session. He finished the match with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, but pulled 7 out of 22 on the field and 1 out of 6.

It was not the type of effort that Oklahoma City needs or expects an alleged MVP. But despite its difficulties, the Thunder checked several aspects of the game and had the chance to win. The Thunder won the Battle of Rebound (54-49), the Battle of turnover (11 to 14) and had 19 attempts to go on the ground that the Nuggets (104-85). Jalen Williams was undoubtedly the best player on the ground in an effort of 32 points.

But the heart of the old Denver champions rose in the most important moments of the game, and put the game quickly in bed once it arrived at the overtime.

“I think it comes down to everyone who stands together and believes themselves and will be mutually responsible and accepts criticism and go there and go with a positive attitude,” said Murray.

“This kind of mind and everyone in a way together, I think it can bring weight for things to come.”

Match 4 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in Denver.

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