Trail Blazers lose close game to Denver Nuggets, 104-101

For the fourth time this season, the Trail Blazers fail to win a fourth consecutive game. And Portland falls to 25-22 on the season.

The Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Denver Nuggets Monday, 104-101. They entered the game having won three in a row. But, once again, they were unable to put the finishing touches on a fourth consecutive win.

For the Trail Blazers, there was just not enough Al-Farouq Aminu (eight points on 2-of-10 shooting) or CJ McCollum (12 points on 3-for-14 shooting). Aminu and McCollum were a combined 0-for-8 from three.

And there was too much of the Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, who scored a career high 38 points on 14-of-19 shooting.

For the Trail Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic played well. Especially in the third quarter.

Let’s look back in sadness, shall we?

FIRST QUARTER

Nurkic fouled Denver’s Murray 19 seconds into the game. (Just 34 seconds later, Aminu also fouled Murray, who scored the first five points of the game.)

Denver opened an 8-0 lead after a Gary Harris three.

Denver also made it clear that they were going to double-team Damian Lillard early.

Both teams had trouble getting their offenses going. The Trail Blazers made just two of their first eight shots. The Nuggets made just three of their first eight.

But Lillard got his teammates involved early, dishing out three assists. And before you knew it, the score was tied 10-10, and Denver called a timeout.

Pat Connaughton made a diving save at the sideline to help Portland get possession of the ball. Head coach Terry Stotts helped him up and gave him an atta-boy pat on the rump.

Then, two free throws by Connaughton evened the score at 17 with 2:45 left in the first.

Once again, Zach Collins had productive minutes early, playing solid defense at the rim. He finished the first quarter with two points, three rebounds and two blocks.

But neither team was an offensive juggernaut in the first quarter. McCollum in particular struggled, finishing the quarter 0-for-4 from the floor.

After one: Nuggets 20, Trail Blazers 19.

SECOND QUARTER

Portland took the lead early in the second quarter, 25-22. And Denver was plagued by turnovers.

McCollum committed a flagrant foul on the Nuggets’ Trey Lyles.

Nikola Jokic made two straight threes to give Denver a 35-33 lead.

This game was defined by defense early, with both teams in the mid-30 percent range.

Lillard, however, picked it up late in the half, scoring eight consecutive points for the Trail Blazers. The mini offensive onslaught included a three the old-fashioned way, a regular three – and then a ridiculous shot while falling to his left.

Denver finished the half with 11 turnovers.

And at the half, it was Trail Blazers 49, Nuggets 45.

Dame with 15 points. Evan Turner with 10.

Murray had 17 for the Nuggets.

A final note on the first half: Zach Collins played more minutes (15) than Jusuf Nurkic (13).

THIRD QUARTER

The third quarter didn’t start off that well; the Nuggets went on an 8-0 run to take a 53-49 lead. And the Trail Blazers were not yet showing that defensive intensity that staked them to a lead in the first half.

But two free throws and a layup by Nurkic tied the game again.

Murray continued his hot shooting for the Nuggets. With seven minutes to go in the third, he had 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

Nurkic was a whirlwind of activity – scoring, running the floor and grabbing multiple rebounds.

When Collins hit a three with 2:26 left (with an assist by Ed Davis!), the Trail Blazers took a 71-69 lead.

Shabazz Napier scored his first two points of the game with 1:28 left in the third. And he got his first three a few seconds later.

After three: Trail Blazers 78, Nuggets 76.

Both teams were shooting 42.2 percent. Lillard had 18 points. Nurkic, dominant and effective in the third quarter, has 15 points and 12 rebounds. Collins had seven points and seven rebounds.

FOURTH QUARTER

Twelve minutes to go. And both teams pump up the intensity.

But after a Davis dunk, a McCollum jumper, a Napier 14-footer, another Davis dunk, and a Lillard field goal, the Trail Blazers had the lead 88-82 with about eight minutes left.

Nurkic swatted a shot into the first row and smirked at the crowd.

https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/955653802375262208

A Lillard three gives the Trail Blazers their biggest lead of the night, 93-86.

A Mason Plumlee put-back dunk brings the Nuggets within three, 93-90.

Murray ties the game at 95 with a three pointer.

It remains a very competitive and physical game with 22 ties.

Lillard drives to the basket, scores and gets the foul call. But he misses the free throw. Trail Blazers are up 99-97 with 40.3 seconds left in the game.

But there was that guy Murray again, hitting a driving layup and getting fouled by Turner. He hit the free throw to give the Nuggets the lead, 100-99.

The Trail Blazers had a mad scramble on their next-to-last possession, but failed to score. And Lillard lost the ball out of bounds.

Lillard fouled Will Barton, who made both free throws to increase Denver’s lead to 102-99.

Next: Damian Lillard won’t remain loyal to the Trail Blazers forever

Then the Trail Blazers inbounded the ball after taking their final timeout. Lillard passed the ball to Nurkic, who dunked it.

Two more Barton free throws later, and the Nuggets had their final points and the win.

Game over: Nuggets 104, Trail Blazers 101.

Box score here.

TAKEAWAYS

Trail Blazers lose after leading at the half: Portland is now 18-6 this season when leading at the half.

Player of the Week: Prior to Monday’s tilt against the Denver Nuggets, Damian Lillard was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week. The Trail Blazers’ all-everything guard put up some monster numbers last week (29.3 points 5.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists) while shooting like a fiend and leading Portland to a 3-0 record.

“Bad Moon” Swanigan: Caleb Swanigan continues to play well in the G League. He’s averaging 14.9 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. He’s currently second in rebounding and has had a double-double in seven of 10 games. Look for the man they call “Biggie” (but whom I call “Bad Moon,” just because it sounds better than “Biggie”) to return to the Trail Blazers sooner rather than later.