Game 58: Denver Nuggets (37-20) @ Portland Trail Blazers (32-25) - 10:00PM

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[NuggetsWY]

I do not have a good feeling about this game. Barton & Campazzo are going to have to try to slow down some excellent guards. Worse, one of our forwards is going to have to spend a great deal of time trying to cover one of their guards - and our forwards aren't that quick.

Can our front court make up for their back court? That might take around 80 points from Jokic, Porter, Gordon.

[TunaFish]

Portland should be playing hard to win this game because of the current standings. This should be a decent challenge.

[THE J0KER]

What is wrong with Porter this time? A perfect 1st quarter without a miss (17pts, 4reb) and then didn't take a single shot attempt in the 2nd quarter?

It is great to see Jokic and MPJ both together on the floor, but without Murray, our 2nd unit offensively doesn't work if Jokic and Porter are both benched and the opponent uses notable starters, so we can't score the point 5 minutes (2-12 bench players in 1st half)!

If we win this game it will be a great win vs finally healthy Portland, but if we lose this game it actually helps the Blazers to attack LA Lakers at #5, so nothing tragic. But better we win, Leonard is injured so 3rd seed is still open.

[THE J0KER]

A win is a win, but we actually beat a very good team despite Murray is out, Porter was scoreless after 1st quarter, we once again have a big down in 3rd (2-18 run) and Jokic doesn't have even a double-double.

[DaFan334]

Outside of the starters, the team is struggling on offense immensely. Milsap had some timely play but beyond that, the second unit is a defensive group only. I like Harrison and Rivers but look forward to Monte's return. This team is currently far more short rotation and playoff suited than they are for the regular season. It does make me curious about the rotations in the playoffs, because Facu might be better with the first team to start and let Morris actually help the bench before also finishing out games.

[psimanic1]

I could see us giving Shaq full contract next year, he is playing nice defense and he will for sure have nice offensive games, its just his 2nd game with a team and I dont think they had even 1 practice since he signed

[NuggetsWY]

Lucky to win? Maybe, but some better than I expected defense certainly helped. Definitely some mental lapses on defense, by more than one Nugget. But Lillard @ 22, McCollum @ 14, Powell @ 17 --- I was impressed. I'd call it a satisfying win, although I'll admit I had my doubts in the last minute of the game.

Speaking of defense: Jokic had a block - so did Millsap & Green & Dozier - but wait a minute, so did Campazzo,

Five starters in double figures, no bench player in double figures. Our front-line matched their three guards on the score board, I was impressed.

[GeorgeSears]

Best game Facu has played all year: 4/5 from 3 12 points, 1 turnover. If he can keep this up going forward, Nuggets should be able to hold onto that 4 seed and possibly even steal that 3 seed.