Nikola Jokic had 36 points and the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers in six games with a 126-115 victory Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Michael Porter Jr. added 26 points, including 22 in the opening quarter, for the third-seeded Nuggets. They await the outcome of the first-round series between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n
Denver advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the third straight season.<\/p>\n
Damian Lillard finished with 28 points and 13 assists for the sixth-seeded Blazers. They led by 14 points in the third quarter but couldn't stave off elimination.<\/p>\n
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Monte Morris hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close Denver to 101-98 heading into the last period. Jokic hit a 3-pointer to put Denver ahead 108-106 and Denver stretched it to 117-108 on Austin Rivers' 3 with 3:52 left.<\/p>\n
Portland tired to catch up, getting to 121-115 on CJ McCollum's layup, but Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer that all but sealed it for Denver with less than a minute to go.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 147-140 double overtime victory in Denver on Tuesday night. It spoiled Lillard's epic playoff performance: He had 55 points, including 12 3-pointers, and 10 assists. It was the most 3-pointers ever in a playoff game.<\/p>\n
The Blazers needed big man Jusuf Nurkic to stay out of foul trouble. Tasked with defending Jokic, he fouled out in three of the first five games.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/nuggets\/status\/1400638212255535107<\/a>https:\/\/twitter.com\/nuggets\/status\/1400617837123686404<\/a>https:\/\/twitter.com\/trailblazers\/status\/1400622568562860034<\/a><\/p>\n Nurkic didn't have a foul in the first half, but then had four quick fouls in the third quarter and had to head to the bench.<\/p>\n Porter had six 3-pointers in the first quarter alone, tying an NBA playoff record for most 3s a quarter.<\/p>\n Lillard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Blazers a 68-61 lead at the half. He raised his arms to encourage the crowd as he headed off the floor.<\/p>\n Lillard was honored before the game as the NBA's Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award. The league's players vote to recognize \u201cselfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.\u201d Carmelo Anthony and CJ McCollum presented Lillard with the award.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealSkipBayless\/status\/1400643851027587077<\/a><\/p>\n