Jamal Murray falls 55 as the nuggets turn off blazers

On Monday night, when the Portland Trail Blazers played Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic scored 40 points and Denver hammered Blazer’s mercilessly. Portland entered their game against the Nuggets Wednesday night decided to avoid a repeat. They did it kind. Jokic did not score 40. Jamal Murray did and produced a career high 55 on 20-36 shooting. Nuggets hammered Blazers just as hard and went off the field with a 132-121 victory.

Blazers played this game without a starting center Deandre Ayton, out for a month with a calf injury. Donovan Clingan took his place and scored 17 points on 7-12 shoots with 20 rebounds. Jabari Walker also earned 17 points and 7 rebounds in 19 minutes of play. Anfee Simons led Blazers with 26 points.

Here are the factors that decided the game.

Joker passes

After Nikola Jokic scored 40 on Blazers in their last game, Portland changed their defensive approach to the entire world center. Instead of holding a center on him, the Toumani Camara had guarded him on the perimeter and tried to remove the three -point shot and lighten dribbles to the middle. When Jokic was driving, Portland collapsed on him with more players.

This approach succeeded in the sense that it held Joker’s shooting attempt and pointing down. He only took 7 shots in the first half and hit 4. But his passersby picked up mighty. MVP was like a surgeon and threw the ball to players open by Blazers flash against him, whether at the bow or near the edge. Jokic finished the game with 10 assists. Murray was a favorite goal.

Blazers changed a little in the second half and let Clingan Guard Jokic straight up. That’s when Joker did most of his scoring. Clingan tried hard, but it was in vain. Jokic ended up with 26 points despite his best efforts.

Basically, there is no way for Portland to win over the caliber of player right now. It showed.

Offensive rebounds

Another symptom of going small against the nuggets was a clear fight with rebounding. Denver grabbed 12 offensive boards to 14 points in the second chance. This is how they built their original lead.

Fortunately, Clingan’s 10 offensive boards excelled the scoring and then some. Blazers ended with 14 offensive rebounds for 18 other chance points, at least giving himself a glimpse of hope.

Triangles

As if the nuggets needed more positivity, they shot 15-38, 39.5% from the three-point bow. However, this number was a bit illusory. As happened Monday night, Denver spent most of the game over 50% from the arch. Portland did not forget how to defend. See above Re: Their collapsed defense against Jokic. It left more players open on the perimeter. Denver made blazers to pay.

It’s a short list but the game was really so simple. Portland had no counting against these factors and it was Ballgame. Blazers ran a short race in the fourth quarter as Denver messed around and tried to get Murray his career high, but it was briefly.

Trivia

Denver’s starters scored 129 of their 132 points tonight. Blazers put seven players in double but they could have been just one little Outmatchet.

Up next

BoxScore

Now is the time for the NBA All-Star break. Blazers are off until February 20, when facing Luka Doncic and Los Angeles Lakers With a 7 p.m. 19:00, Pacific start.

Don’t forget to donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night so underrated kids and young people can watch Blazers play in person next month!