Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic overwhelm the Trail Blazers in Game 5

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 08 May 2019 02:04

DENVER -- Paul Millsap scored inside while being fouled, then did something he doesn't do very often.

The calm and often emotionless veteran flexed both of his arms.

After four games of both teams playing virtually even basketball across the board, the Denver Nuggets followed Millsap's lead and muscled their way past the Portland Trail Blazers 124-98 Tuesday night to inch within a victory of a Western Conference finals appearance.

The Nuggets lead the series 3-2.

Millsap, the steady 13-year veteran, set the tone early as he has done much of this conference semifinals series. Millsap hit seven of his first 10 shots and scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half.

"He was huge," Denver center Nikola Jokic said. "He set everything -- physicality, pace, offensively, defensively. He was really huge."

"He's actually playing really good these playoffs," Jokic added after a long pause. "Maybe he turned on the playoff mode."

When he wasn't abusing Portland's defense on the low block with an array of moves and runners, Millsap hurt Portland from outside, burying a 3-pointer while being fouled for a rare four-point play that pushed the Denver lead to 20 just before halftime. The largest lead by either team prior to Game 5 was 17, by Portland in the third quarter of a Game 2 that was decided by a mere seven points.

"They like that action with Jamal Murray and Jokic a lot," Portland point guard Damian Lillard said of Millsap. "They're playing out of the corners with Will [Barton] and Gary Harris and [Malik] Beasley ... then when all else fails, you've got to guard Millsap. They'll throw him on the block, and he's a handful for guys to guard because he's in the paint, face-up jumpers, he's making 3s. In transition, you got to find him, and then he's a monster on the glass."

Indeed, Millsap has gone into postseason beast mode, averaging 19 points, 9.6 rebounds and 54.5 percent shooting from the field against the Trail Blazers in this round.

In Game 5, Portland tried to put center Enes Kanter on Millsap early. (Kanter, a devout Muslim, is fasting from sunrise to sunset each day for the next month in observance of Ramadan.) The Nuggets adjusted, and Millsap went 5-for-5 when guarded by Kanter in the first half.

At times in Games 3 and 4, Portland tried to put Kanter on Millsap to avoid having Kanter stuck on Murray off a Jokic-Murray pick-and-roll late in games.

"They tried a few things, to switch a few things up," Millsap said. "We read them pretty quickly, but most importantly, guys were locked in today."

"I know they tried to be a little bit more physical with me these last two games against my counters," Millsap added. "For me, once they take something away and I can't bully them down there, get to my counters and just trust it."

Portland not only had no answer for Millsap, there has been no stopping Jokic. After back-to-back triple-doubles, Jokic continued his postseason surge with a near 20-20. The Serbian All-Star had 25 points, 19 rebounds and six assists before fouling out in the fourth quarter with the game in hand.

Denver ultimately outscored Portland 66-44 in the paint; the scoring margin in the paint never exceeded eight points in any of the previous four games of the series.

Jokic nearly lost his cool after taking a flagrant foul 1 shove from Meyers Leonard on a drive to the basket with the Nuggets up 20 with eight minutes remaining. Jokic, though, has kept his composure this entire postseason after being ejected three times during the regular season. He credits Millsap's calm demeanor.

"How I look at him, he doesn't have emotions," Jokic explained. "When things are not going good, he gets us together ... he keeps talking with us. ... He helps me a lot just watching him and just to learn from him to see how he is dealing with situations."

Millsap, who played in his 99th career postseason game, was the man the young Nuggets turned to on the eve of the playoffs to ask for advice on what they were about to experience.

And now many of these young Nuggets playing in their first postseason will look to Millsap again for guidance on how to close out a team on the road for the first time in the playoffs.

The Nuggets failed to clinch the series in Game 6 in the first round, losing at the San Antonio Spurs before needing to win Game 7 at home.

"It showed us what not to do," Millsap said of the Game 6 loss in Texas. "That being a lot of guys' [first] Game 6 and going into an environment like that, shocking for a lot of guys. We'll be ready."

Read 1486 times

Soccer

Parsons: USWNT's Thompson best in NWSL in '25

Parsons: USWNT's Thompson best in NWSL in '25

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Angel City FC sporting director Mark Parso...

Maresca: My mistake nearly cost Chelsea win

Maresca: My mistake nearly cost Chelsea win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsChelsea boss Enzo Maresca said he could have blown his side's chanc...

FIFA rankings: USMNT static, Canada at new high

FIFA rankings: USMNT static, Canada at new high

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe U.S. men's national team remained 16th in the latest FIFA ranki...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Nets coach on Ant scare: I have to move faster

Nets coach on Ant scare: I have to move faster

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez took the blame for Minne...

Luka takes blame for 'unacceptable' night in loss

Luka takes blame for 'unacceptable' night in loss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Luka Doncic hit his first shot Thursday night, scori...

Baseball

Judge gets 500th extra-base hit; 3rd-fastest Yank

Judge gets 500th extra-base hit; 3rd-fastest Yank

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge smiled and perhaps blushed when informed of...

Reds: 1st since 1960 to lose 3 straight by 1-0

Reds: 1st since 1960 to lose 3 straight by 1-0

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMILWAUKEE -- The Cincinnati Reds lost 1-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated