PORTLAND, Ore. – Had Austin Rivers made just one crunch-time 3-pointer, it would’ve been the biggest shot of his Nuggets career.
Instead, the journeyman veteran had four such buckets, sinking the Blazers, snatching Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, and wresting homecourt advantage back in Denver’s favor here late Thursday. The Nuggets’ gripping 120-115 win over Portland was yet another nod to their resiliency.
No matter who’s next to Nikola Jokic in the lineup, the Nuggets have proven over and over they’ll have a chance. The Blazers didn’t go quietly, though, only officially giving in after Jokic’s late tip-in sealed the win.