The Portland Trail Blazers looked like the better team from start to finish (even if they didn’t always play like it), and put away the Denver Nuggets 116-100 in a game that was not as close as it appeared on the scoreboard.
Damian Lillard struggled through another sub-par game, but got some garbage points late to finish with 11. It’s tough to tell what’s ailing Lillard at this point: be it the increased attention, or the pressure of breaking into stardom, Dame hasn’t been himself most of this young season, and it should be something to watch. The Trail Blazers won’t succeed long term unless Lillard plays the way he is capable of playing.
Recap
Nicolas Batum started hot with 5 quick points, and it seemed that the Trail Blazers had an advantage at every position. Kaman showed off some fancy footwork, and Denver’s J.J. Hickson checked in for the first time this season (after being suspended for the first five games). The Trail Blazers were devouring the offensive glass. Hustle and a talent disparity led the Blazers to a 36-27 lead after one quarter.
The Nuggets could have rolled over, but they didn’t. Robin Lopez was living on his patented baby hook, and Wesley Matthews was shooting without hesitation, ending the half with 19 (!!!) points and 5-10 from deep. The Trail Blazers’ ball movement confused the Nuggets, who faced a 64-56 deficit at the half.
The third started with the Nuggets proving once again that they weren’t going to just accept a loss. They closed within 3 points at 64-61, but LaMarcus Aldridge hit a three (part of his new offensive repertoire) and jumper, making it 69-61. Chris Kaman was blocking shots, hitting jumpers, and discouraging the Nuggets from getting to the rim, but the Trail Blazers couldn’t quite shut the door. They still led 85-73 after three quarters.
Matthews’ energy set the tone to start the fourth, and it must have rubbed off on Steve Blake, who received a hard pick by Denver’s Kenneth Faried. Blake responded by flattening Faried like a pancake. A double-technical was issued and Blake received a flagrant 1. He didn’t look like he was in the mood to take any crap from anyone. It’s nice to have a salty veteran on your side. Despite the show of machismo, it was Denver who capitalized, and brought the game back to within single digits.
With the Nuggets still within striking distance, the Trail Blazers were able to do just enough to stay ahead, and the Nuggets reluctantly slid into the familiar, tepid bath of defeat as the Trail Blazers claimed victory.
Players
Damian Lillard, as mentioned earlier, just doesn’t look quite right, does he? No need to repeat the stats, but it bears repeating that the Trail Blazers will not be successful if he doesn’t regain form soon.
LaMarcus Aldridge, on the other hand, was making lunchmeat of Faried. It was silly at times, as Faried tried playing straight up, embellishing, and pushing back against the longer and more talented Aldridge. None of it helped. Aldridge got 28 and 9 with 4 assists, a steal, and a block. Nice game.
Wesley Matthews gets the game ball, if only for his 19-point first half alone. He was confident and sly, playing tough defense and picking his spots on offense. He finished with 21-6-3. Yeah, it might have been nice to see some second-half production from him, but it wasn’t needed.
Nicolas Batum appeared to hurt himself at the end of the game. Hopefully it is not serious. He finished with 10-9-3, a steal, and a block. He was as much a part of the offense as anyone else who scored twice as many points. Batum is kind of like a gear in a vending machine: sometimes you don’t know it’s there, but without it you would never get any sweet, sweet candy.
Robin Lopez had 12 and 9 with three blocks, and a dizzying array of offensive moves: he has a hook shot, a baby hook shot, a leaning hook shot, a push-hook shot, and… something else. But he loves his hooks.
Chris Kaman: what can you say? Every game you think he’s shown all that he can do, and then he kicks it up a notch. This time it was with his interior defense, as he intimidated the Nuggets near the rim and registered five, count em’ FIVE, blocks. That’s huge. He also had 12 points and 8 boards. That’s huge too.
Steve Blake‘s finest moment of the season was, without a doubt, the encounter he had with Faried described earlier. But he also added 9 points on perfect 3-3 shooting from deep, as well as 4 assists.
Notes
- The Trail Blazers probably shouldn’t have allowed 100 points tonight, but truth be told, a lot of this game had a “cat playing with a mouse” type of feeling. It seemed like Portland was going to crack this game wide open at any given time, and it never happened. Although, with a 16-point win, I guess there is not a lot left to crack, but it still would have been nice to see a blowout so furious that the game was over by halftime.
- The Trail Blazers shot 31 threes to Denver’s 13. That’s quite the discrepancy, and a lot of it had to do with the Trail Blazers’ ball movement which, we will remember, is what created so many open looks in the early part of last season.
- The Trail Blazers also had 27 assist to the Nuggets’ 14. Ball movement.