Nuggets at Trail Blazers
The Denver Nuggets can clinch a spot in the Western Conference finals when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday in Game 6 of the conference semifinals. Denver won the past two games, including Tuesday's 124-98 home rout of the Trail Blazers, to take a 3-2 series lead.
Star center Nikola Jokic continued his stellar series with 25 points and 19 rebounds in Game 5 and he is averaging 26.4 points, 14.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists. "When you have opportunity, you have to take advantage," Jokic told TNT in a postgame television interview about the possibility of clinching in Portland. "We're going to go there and play the best basketball that we can." The Trail Blazers need an improved effort from star point guard Damian Lillard, who is just 33-of-84 shooting - including 7-of-32 from 3-point range - over the past four games. "I think the good thing for us is whether you lose by one or you lose by 25, it's one game," Lillard told reporters after Game 5. "We're going back home to try to force a Game 7 and try to make it back here (to Denver)."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Veteran power forward Paul Millsap has been a difference-maker in the series and is averaging 19 points and 9.6 rebounds while recording three double-doubles. Portland is having difficulties matching up with both Millsap and Jokic and Millsap has topped 20 points in each of the past two games, including a series-best 24 in Game 5. "Thirteen-year vet, a lot of games under his belt and he is stepping up when he need him to step up," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "I think the best thing about Paul Millsap: He's true to himself; he never tries to be something he's not. And he's not a rah-rah guy. He's not a guy that's going to be screaming and yelling, but I think his calm nature has an effect on our group."
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS: Lillard, who is averaging 26.2 points in the series, scored 22 points in Game 5 but was just 9-of-21 shooting, including 2-of-9 from long range. Despite being blown out, Portland remains confident that a Game 6 in front of the home fans can be the precursor of a comeback against the young Nuggets. "We've got two must-wins," Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters after Game 5. "Somebody was going to have a must-win after (Tuesday), and it's us. So we've got two must-wins ahead of us."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Nuggets PG Jamal Murray was held to 18 points in Game 5 after scoring 34 in each of the previous two games.
2. Portland PF Al-Farouq Aminu managed three points on 1-of-8 shooting in Game 5 after scoring a series-best 19 points in Game 4.
3. Jokic has 10 double-doubles in 12 postseason games - including four triple-doubles.