Just like the first rematch from their 2019 NBA Playoffs series, the Blazers didn’t take advantage of their chances in the fourth, eventually falling to the Nuggets 114-99.
Fading Like a Flower. Portland kept the game close through most of three quarters, but gave up a late 10-0 Denver run to close the third, and struggled to get the lead down to single digits afterward.
Perfect Day. Hassan Whiteside was given the role of “don’t worry about that guy” in Denver’s defensive scheme. In some ways, it worked: Denver won. But in the process, Whiteside had a huge night, featuring a new career-high 33 points.