With the Trail Blazers holding a double-digit second-half lead and the Portland crowd dialed up, it seemed the most exciting series of the first round was destined to culminate with a Game 7. Instead, presumed MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets had other ideas.
Jokic scored 36 points on 13-for-22 shooting as the Nuggets stormed back to beat the Trail Blazers, 126-115, in Game 6 on Thursday night to advance to the second round.
It was Jokic's fifth 30-point game of the series, capping a scorching run for the sixth-year star. For the series, he averaged 33 points, 10.