McCollum, Nurkic propel Trail Blazers past Nuggets
PORTLAND, Ore. -- C.J. McCollum scored 39 points and Jusuf Nurkic delivered a career-high 33 points and added 16 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers posted a 122-113 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night at Moda Center.
Damian Lillard contributed 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Trail Blazers (36-38), who recorded their 12th win in the last 15 outings.
Jameer Nelson scored 23 points for the Nuggets (35-39), who fell a game behind Portland in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Nikola Jokic collected 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Nuggets.
Nurkic, acquired in a trade with Denver on Feb. 13, was 12-for-15 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line.
The Blazers shot 49.5 percent from the field, committed just nine turnovers and held Denver to 49 second-half points.
Nurkic went for 21 points and McCollum 20 as the Blazers carried a 66-64 lead into halftime.
Portland led 83-76 midway through the third quarter, with Nurkic (29 points) already surpassing his previous career high of 28. The Blazers increased the difference to 95-83 on a deep 3-pointer by Lillard and a put-back by Al-Farouq Aminu. It was 95-85 heading into the final period.
The Nuggets got to within 109-103 with 5:05 remaining, but Aminu came through with five straight points. The Nuggets got no closer than seven the rest of the way.
Denver took a 33-28 lead late in the first quarter, then carried a 35-32 advantage into the second period despite 13 points by Nurkic.
The Nuggets extended the margin to 41-34 and led 52-46 when the Blazers went on a 10-0 run. Portland took a two-point edge into intermission.
NOTES: Both teams shot superbly in the first half as Denver posted a 54.5 percent mark while Portland shot 51.9 percent. ... Portland coach Terry Stotts, asked before the game if he would attempt to calm down C Jusuf Nurkic before playing against his former team: "I'm not one to calm players down. I like them playing with energy." ... Denver came in ranked No. 1 in the NBA in rebounding percentage. Portland was 14th. The Blazers won the battle of the boards 48-47 Tuesday night. ... The Blazers entered the game ranked 23rd in the NBA in defensive efficiency, the Nuggets 29th.