There was another nail-biting surface. Another Damian Lillard scoring eruption. Another miraculous Houdini act.
The Portland Trail Blazers have been nothing, if not significant, at the NBA restart in the Disney World bubble.
And their most current act, a season-saving 134-133 success over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night, was their greatest and most amusing yet. It required a play-in series against the Memphis Grizzlies, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference– and a date with the No. 1 seed Los Angeles Lakers.
One of the wildest seasons in franchise history has boiled down to this: Win one of the next 2 video games and reach the playoffs. Heres “The good, the bad and the gutsy,” from another bonkers Blazers win …
GOOD: JUSUF NURKICS GROWTH
As the Blazers compiled a 6-2 bubble record and required a play-in matchup with the Grizzlies, theyve mainly rolled with an eight-man rotation that has actually played heavy minutes.
In the make-or-break fourth quarter, Nurkic played all 12 minutes, taping 12 points, 4 rebounds and one take, while making 6 of 7 shots. And in the last two minutes, Nurkic had a crucial part in 2 key, momentum-changing plays. The first featured 1:47 left, when Nurkic ran complimentary to the rim, gathered a pass from CJ McCollum and finished a layup while being fouled by Joe Harris. The container offered the Blazers a 132-130 edge.
The Blazers lived to play another day because Lillard (42 points, 12 assists) was yet again otherworldly, McCollum, Carmelo Anthony and Gary Trent Jr. hit crucial late-game shots, and– for reasons inconceivable– Caris LeVert settled for a last-second step-back jumper with the video game on the line.
” Obviously there will be some fatigue,” Lillard stated. “But it will not be as hard as you might think.”
The Blazers feature 3 of the bubbles 22 heaviest-used players, consisting of two of the top 4.
They likewise won since of Nurkics maturity and development.
Nurkic looked gassed during the Blazers last game– an incredible Tuesday night win over the Dallas Mavericks– and it was fair to wonder whether he had actually struck the bubble wall. Between the coronavirus crisis and his recovery from a left leg fracture, Nurkic had missed the last 16 months. After opening the bubble with four dominant efficiencies, he had actually fallen back to earth, punctuated by a six-point, nine-rebound, six-foul outing versus the Mavericks, which came while playing for the 3rd time in 4 days.
The Blazers on Thursday downplayed their heavy minutes and dismissed the concept that fatigue will be a problem progressing. Coach Terry Stotts noted that the toll of travel will not enter play in the bubble, there will be plenty of off-days to recover and back-to-backs will not be a consider the playoffs.
So when he collected that fourth foul Thursday, one would have been forgiven for reflecting and keeping in mind the old “adorable” Nurkic. The young, immature center who would flub close-range shots, flop incessantly, whimper to authorities and make you yell “DUNK THE BASKETBALL” at your television screen. It turns out, those days are long gone.
Whats more, almost all of the Blazers eight bubble video games have been extreme, draining and down-to-the-wire matchups, which naturally need more energy.
Nurkic had actually simply been whistled for a nasty after bullying Rodions Kurucs into the lane and knocking him to the court with a shoulder push. It was his 4th and, in the greatest game of the season– against the group he suffered his destructive injury versus last season– Nurkic was having a night to forget.
Its tough to believe fatigue will be absolutely irrelevant.
Lillard said the fourth-month layoff did marvels for his body, adding that, under normal scenarios, the Blazers would get in the playoffs right away after completing a grueling 82-game regular season. This, he stated, was simply an eight-game sprint.
The Blazers push towards the play-in round has been entertaining, emotional and thrilling. Its likewise been stressful.
Its no surprise Lillard on Thursday was hunched over, hands on knees and gasping for air, after the last horn sounded on a night he played 44 minutes.
When Jusuf Nurkic ambled to the Blazers bench early in the 3rd quarter, he wore the look of a male who had actually been beat.
As the Blazers were fighting tooth and nail to overcome a double-digit deficit against the scrappy Nets and save their playoff hopes, Nurkic was a driver, bullying the Nets inside, diving to the ground for loose balls, taking the heat of a double-teamed Lillard and prepared the Blazers to a win.
Lillard is balancing 41.7 minutes in Orlando, second-most amongst the 22 teams. McCollum is averaging 40.9 minutes while playing with a fracture in his lower back. Anthony, at age 36, is averaging 34.9 minutes. Trent, who is seeing substantial, playoff-like playing time for the very first time in his profession, is averaging 34.1 minutes. And Nurkic, playing for the very first time given that March 2019, is averaging 31.6 minutes.
In previous years, specifically early in his Portland period, that likely would have been a wrap for the Bosnian Beast. Odds are, he would have indulged his misfortune and checked out for the night, yielding to the worst of his emotions or recklessly gathering fouls No. 5 and 6. In an efficiency that highlights his development and improved maturity, Nurkic instead regrouped and played a significant part of another clutch bubble return.
” Whatever it takes,” said Nurkic, who finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
He plopped down in a socially distanced seat with 10 minutes left, shook his head in disgust and then buried his face in his hands, concealing away from an unpleasant situation.
” Im going straight from here straight to the cold tub,” Lillard said before leaving the arena Thursday night.
” I was exhausted,” he stated, when asked what was going through his mind after the 4th quarter buzzer. “I played the whole 2nd half.”
” Yeah, weve spent a great deal of energy,” he said. “But … I think professional athletes are very durable.”
Maybe. But the Blazers have taken a trip a difficult road to force a play-in opportunity. And now theyre looking at a date with Memphis, simply to get a chance to face LeBron James and the Lakers.
Then, on the ensuing ownership, Nurkic switched on a pick-and-roll in the lane, offing a Nets scoring possibility in the lane, and dove to the court to nab a loose ball, flipping it to McCollum prior to his massive 7-foot, 290-pound frame flew out of bounds.
BAD: FATIGUE
GUTSY: McCOLLUM DELIVERS THROUGH PAIN
McCollums last line: 25 points, seven helps, three steals, one block and 2 crucial clutch plays. He did not talk to press reporters afterward, but did address his injury throughout a postgame tv interview.
The pail offered the Blazers a 132-130 edge.
The guy who delivered in Game 7 on Mothers Day last year provided a gutsy performance Thursday night, powering through an agonizing injury to assist in saving the Blazers season.
” Im just out here hooping,” McCollum stated, when asked about his injury by Blazers sideline press reporter Brooke Olzendam.
@BlazerFreeman
For at least one gutsy night, it didnt matter.
McCollum brought the Blazers early and made two mammoth plays late– all with a fracture in his lower back– enhancing his budding big-shot track record.
Nurkic looked gassed throughout the Blazers last game– an incredible Tuesday night win over the Dallas Mavericks– and it was reasonable to wonder whether he had actually struck the bubble wall. The Blazers have actually traveled a tough roadway to require a play-in chance. The shot swished and the Blazers led 134-130, a margin that proved enough.
The Blazers starting shooting guard tape-recorded 12 points and 2 assists in his very first shift, making 6 of 7 shots to open the video game, as the Blazers developed early momentum. He factored into the Blazers final 2 buckets, consisting of the ultimate game-winner.
It was McCollums pass, of course, that led to that clutch Nurkic layup– and 132-130 edge– with 1:47 left. The shot swished and the Blazers led 134-130, a margin that showed enough.
McCollum cooled down considerably after his hot start, completing simply 9 of 21 from the field– including 0-for-6 from three-point range– and one has to wonder how much the condition is affecting his jumper. It could be an issue moving on.
” Im simply out here hooping,” McCollum stated, when asked about his injury by Blazers sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam. “Ive got to do what I can for the group to help us get to the playoffs.
