The Blazers Withstood A Furious Late Rally From The Nuggets To Even Their Series


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It took a full team effort from the Portland Trail Blazers, but eventually, they were able to secure a 97-90 win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night to even their Western Conference Semifinals series at 1-1 heading back to Portland for Game 3 on Friday.

C.J. McCollum led the way for the Blazers with 20 points, 15 of which came in the second half. He was able to knock down big shots and keep just enough separation to help withstand a furious late rally from the Nuggets, who battled nearly all the way back from 15 down in the fourth period.

McCollum continued the clutch shooting that has characterized his play this postseason, including this difficult runner in the lane midway through the fourth quarter.

Rodney Hood had a huge game for Portland with 15 points to build on his solid play in Game 1, while Enes Kanter put forth a workmanlike effort, going for 15 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and a pair of blocks.

Nikola Jokic led the way for Denver with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, none of which were prettier than this nutmeg on Maurice Harkless for the Paul Millsap jam.

Jamal Murray added 15 points, but was just 6-for-18 from the field. Denver as a team struggled to make shots all night, going 6-for-29 from behind the arc and missing 10 straight three-pointers to end the first half as the Blazers pushed the lead to 15.

Portland carried that lead into the final period, but Denver came storming back behind a 19-9 run at one point, most of that thanks to a Herculean effort on the boards that saw them grab 14 offensive rebounds in the final period that they converted into eight points. Their shooting woes, however, ultimately sank them down the stretch.

There was a scary moment at the end of the first quarter when Torrey Craig went down with that appeared to be a brutal face injury as he crumpled to the floor in a heap, bleeding profusely from his nose. Harkless likewise left the game with a tweaked ankle and was questionable to return.

But midway through the third quarter, Craig returned to the bench wearing a face-mask and told coach Mike Malone that he wanted to play. He would re-enter the game late in the fourth quarter and made a big three-pointer at one point, then had another collision with Kanter that resulted in a minor dust-up between the two teams that quickly dissipated.

The Blazers will not try to regain control of the series when Game 3 tips off back at the Moda Center Friday night at 10:30 ET.

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