When the final whistle was called and the Western Conference semifinals were decided, there was an understandable deflated vibe at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets led by as many as 17 points but couldn’t hold on in a heartbreaking 100-96 defeat in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday. After the result, there was a somber mood in the locker room, but there was also another emotion that was prevalent: Quiet confidence. “For us, tonight is the end of the season, but I’m not going to allow this Game 7 loss to take away from a magical year,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said after the game. “It doesn’t feel that way right now, but when I reflect and when our players reflect on what we were able to accomplish – hell of a year. I couldn’t ask for anything more from our guys.” And what a year it was. The Nuggets finished the regular season with 54 wins, good for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. It was their first playoff appearance in six year and Denver didn’t disappoint. Their 14-game run introduced America into the phenom that is Nikola Jokić. It showcased the growing young talents the team has in Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Malik Beasley and Monte Morris among others. It also saw Paul Millsap produce arguably the finest postseason performances of his 13-year career. As disappointing as Sunday was, there is a prevailing sense that this young team (the eighth-youngest in NBA playoff history) will take this postseason experience and grow from it. “The future is so bright, you heard me say it all postseason. I love the moment. I love where we’re at, but more importantly, I love where we’re going and who we’re going there with,” Malone said. Jokić shared his coach’s thoughts. “When we started this season and training camp, we said let’s make the playoffs and then we were playing really good and we were not in the last spot the last couple of weeks and we said let’s do something bigger,” he said. “We had homecourt advantage. We beat San Antonio in seven games, it was a really tough series against Portland today. “It’s improvement for us. This is our first time being here and hopefully next year we’re going to be better.” Millsap has been on several playoff teams in his 13-year career and he was impressed with how quickly his younger teammates were able to learn on the fly in the playoffs and adjust. “It’s an unbelievable stretch, amazing run from guys who haven’t been there before,” Millsap. “They learned fast, they picked up on what the playoffs were about early, and as a veteran in this locker room, I’m so proud of all the younger guys in here for the challenges that they went through and they fought through. They learned so quickly to get to this point. I’m proud of everybody in this locker room.” Jokić was one of the players who really showed growth in all aspects of his game. He almost averaged a triple-double in the playoffs, going for 24.8 points, 13 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game while shooting 51.5 percent. After the game, Jokić tried to shoulder the blame for the Nuggets losing Game 7. "They look at me as a leader," he said. "They look at me as their best player and yeah, I missed that one free throw at the end. I missed a free throw in the Portland game that lead to 4 overtime and I feel responsible just because I missed a lot of shots. I was supposed to make some of those." Although Jokić isn’t the reason why the Nuggets lost, it was a display of his growth as a leader. He doesn’t shy away from the responsibility of being a franchise player, he embraces it. This is probably what the Nuggets envisioned when they signed him to his multi-year extension last summer. “I got Nikola Jokić in there taking blame for the loss. It’s not his fault, this is a group effort,” Malone said. “I think the cumulative effect of 14 playoff games and us asking him to do as much as we asked him to do finally took its toll on him tonight. This group really did play for each other, not just with each other.” Murray was another player who showed significant improvement throughout the playoffs. Although he struggled in Game 7, the 22-year-old went toe-to-toe with Portland’s superstar in Damian Lillard. Murray averaged 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists in the Western Conference semifinals, an impressive uptick from his season averages of 18.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds. The Canadian point guard has shown improvement each season and he now enters the summer with big expectations after showing his potential in the postseason. “Jamal [Murray] will be a huge part of [the Nuggets] future,” Malone said. “Going into the offseason, having a game like he had, going 4-of-18 from the field, that’s going to be a great motivation tool for him.” The Nuggets entered the 2018-19 season with some hopes of being a playoff team. They wrapped up their 14-game run showing why they can be one of the league’s perennial contenders. The league is certainly taking notice. “The Denver Nuggets had an outstanding season, no one saw that coming,” Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said after the game. “With what they did in the regular season, winning close games, winning the division, [Nikola] Jokić is an amazing player, they’re a young team, they’re going to have a lot of success moving forward.”<doc-sep>Get sassy, Denver. The Nuggets have an “L” for Portland to take out of the Pepsi Center in Game 7. But before Denver offers the Blazers a parting gift from the NBA playoffs, let us give sincere thanks to Portland guard Seth Curry for saying some of the nicest things about the Nuggets anyone has uttered in a long, long time. “They got some sassy dudes over there,” Curry said, condemning Will Barton, Nikola Jokic and the dudes wearing Nuggets’ colors after Game 6 got a little chippy. “Front-runners.” For years, nobody in the NBA ever got irked with the Nuggets, because they were a threat to absolutely no one. Denver has been so far down for so long it seems like forever since anyone accused the Nuggets of having too much sass, showing too little class and being full of … anything worth mentioning. But now the Nuggets are chippy, sassy front-runners that have pushed Portland out of its comfort zone in this series? That’s awesome. The Nuggets will take that as a compliment. “If that’s chippiness and you want to call us sassy, go ahead,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. For too many years, basketball in the Pepsi Center was a scene that featured way too many spectators wearing replica jerseys in tribute to LeBron or Steph, and way too few reasons to believe Denver could ever become a legitimate NBA contender. Given their uneven history, the Nuggets have been forced to earn their love. There’s nothing unconditional about this town’s affinity for this team. But the sometimes chilly relationship began to heat up this past season. Dare I say it? The Nuggets caught our eye by being sassy. Each one of those 54 victories built a little swagger. Maybe it started when guard Jamal Murray scored 48 points against the Celtics, but wanted 50 at the buzzer. And the love affair was rekindled on an evening in late November, after the Nuggets ran the Lakers out of the gym and silenced a crowd that came to cheer the visiting team. “The Warrior fans can come in here. The Celtic fans can come in here. The Laker fans can come in here,” Malone said, following the 117-85 thumping of the Lakers. “But take that L on the way out.” Ever since that sassy comment from Malone, the noise inside the arena has grown in a slow, but steady crescendo. And dare we say it? This noise sounds like hope. There’s hope Nikola Jokic might be the best player ever to wear a Nuggets uniform. Hope Paul Millsap won’t be the last free agent that sees Colorado as a desirable destination. Hope Denver could return to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2009. For the first time in a long time, this town is feeling proud and sassy about its NBA franchise. And I hope the crowd assembled for Game 7 lets both the Blazers and a national television audience know all about it. Hey, anybody can shout: “M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!” when Jokic steps to the free-throw line. Here’s hoping for a more spontaneous and rambunctious chant from Nuggets fans. After Jokic backs down Enes Kanter in the lane for a score, and the Portland center complains to the ref about Joker manhandling him? It might be kinda cool to hear nearly 20,000 fans chant: Sass-y, sass-y, sass-y! When the Blue Arrow hits the bulls-eye from 3-point range? Sass-y, sass-y, sass-y! When Portland coach Terry Stouts is forced to call a timeout to halt a Nuggets run? Sass-y, sass-y, sass-y! In league history, Game 7 has been contested 133 times. The home team has won 105 times. So history suggests the Nuggets have roughly an 80 percent chance of advancing to the Western Conference finals against Golden State, a team likely to be minus star Kevin Durant, at least during the early stages of the series. While basketball is a team game, the biggest NBA games are often won by the best single player on the floor. Portland’s Damian Lillard is certainly capable of scoring 48 points and hitting the winning basket at the buzzer, which would send the Nuggets to Cancun instead of Oakland. Can playing at home make the difference for Denver? “It means a lot, of course, if we can play Game 7 in our home,” Jokic said. “But I think the most important (thing) is who brings the energy on the floor and who brings the physicality.” And who brings the noise. It’s Game 7. It’s a party. It’s time to welcome Dame, Enes and the Blazers one more time to our dusty old cowtown, then let them take that “L” on the way out. Stay sassy, Denver.<doc-sep>Just amazing. Despite losing Rodney Hood, the Portland Trail Blazers mounted a 17-point comeback to take down the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals, 100-96 (Box Score). Hood suffered a hyperextended knee in the third quarter. Here are the basics from Denver. First-half disaster. The Blazers didn’t score for minutes at a time, while watching the Nuggets dance to the hoop. Portland was nearly doubled-up late in the first (29-15), and sat on 19 points three minutes. It was a small miracle that Portland was within 9 at halftime, even though it ended with Lillard missing another three-pointer. The Blazers didn’t score for minutes at a time, while watching the Nuggets dance to the hoop. Portland was nearly doubled-up late in the first (29-15), and sat on 19 points three minutes. It was a small miracle that Portland was within 9 at halftime, even though it ended with Lillard missing another three-pointer. Third quarter comeback? Portland found a way to crawl back into the game, despite the Hood injury, and even took the lead in the final seconds, before Harkless committed a foul on a three-pointer. The Blazers only trailed by 1 after three. Portland found a way to crawl back into the game, despite the Hood injury, and even took the lead in the final seconds, before Harkless committed a foul on a three-pointer. The Blazers only trailed by 1 after three. Fourth quarter glory! CJ McCollum took over in the fourth, as the Denver Nuggets went cold. Portland slowly slipped into the lead as the quarter progressed, and each time the Nuggets closed the gap, McCollum hit another key shot or, on one break, a key block. What’s Next For the first time in 19 years, the Portland Trail Blazers are playing in the Conference Finals. They tip off against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night.<doc-sep>The Portland Trailblazers marched back from a double-digit halftime deficit in Denver to topple the #2 seeded Nuggets 100-96! Portland is headed to their first Western Conference finals trip since 2000, and they will be rewarded by facing the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Portland made the upset happen on an day that the Blazers best player Damian Lillard couldn’t buy a shot. Fortunately for “Rip City”, his backcourt mate C.J. McCollum erupted for 37 points. Lillard only had 13 points but added 10 rebounds and 8 assists in a gritty effort. "I told coach ‘flatten it out and I’ll get us a bucket." - @CJMcCollum AND HE DID EXACTLY THAT. pic.twitter.com/fhm3c0zyPw — Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 12, 2019 CJ is trying his a$$ off!! — Jennifer Williams (@ChocDelight1980) May 12, 2019 Why didn’t any of the Blazers writers do a story on prime Michael Jordan Freaky Friday-ing his way into CJ McCollum’s body? Seems like something worth reporting imo — Denver Stiffs (@denverstiffs) May 12, 2019 Nikola Jokic, Denver’s best player, struggled from he field, scoring 29 points on 26 shots, and he added 13 rebounds. The outcome of the game seemed to be going Denver’s way at halftime. Denver leads Portland 48-39 at the half. Nikola Jokic is the #Nuggets only player in double-figures with 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Damian Lillard has just seven points at halftime and is shooting 1-9 from the field, 0-4 from three. — Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip17) May 12, 2019 With homecourt advantage in Game 7 and the power of the high altitude, Denver still fell short, getting outscored by 13 points in the second half with their season on the line. Hats off to Portland. Great game, great series, great season. Best of luck in the WCF. — Denver Stiffs (@denverstiffs) May 12, 2019 We’ll have more coverage for you on the upcoming Warriors vs Blazers matchup to decide the winner of the West. Now, DISCUSS!<doc-sep>
May 12, 2019 - 12:30 p.m. PT Blazers injuries: Jusuf Nurkic (out) Nuggets injuries: Michael Porter Jr. (out) How to watch on TV: ABC How to stream: WatchESPN, YouTube TV (or other services that carry local ABC streaming) Radio: 620 AM SBN Affiliate: Denver Stiffs It all comes down to this. For the Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets, one team will face the defending champions in the Western Conference Finals. The other team will return home and face the music. The Blazers got to this point with a gutty 119-108 win at home in Game Six. Damian Lillard (32 points), CJ McCollum (30 points), and Rodney Hood (career playoff-high 25 points) led the way to even the series. Zach Collins registered five blocks, becoming the first Blazer to do that in a playoff game since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2010. The Nuggets got 29 points from Nikola Jokic and 24 points from Jamal Murray, but could not stop the Blazers in the second half. Adjustments for Game Seven Use the hot hand. Head coach Terry Stotts has been reluctant to make any changes to the starting lineup throughout these playoffs. However, with everything on the line, something may need to be done. Moe Harkless has struggled on both ends of the floor all series, while Rodney Hood has been impressive, especially in defensive rotations. Swapping the two and letting Harkless work with Evan Turner on the second unit could be beneficial. Head coach has been reluctant to make any changes to the starting lineup throughout these playoffs. However, with everything on the line, something may need to be done. has struggled on both ends of the floor all series, while Rodney Hood has been impressive, especially in defensive rotations. Swapping the two and letting Harkless work with on the second unit could be beneficial. Keep the energy high. The Nuggets are sticking with an eight-man rotation. Murray played 46 of 48 minutes in Game Six. Jokic, Paul Millsap and Gary Harris all played 37 or more minutes. Conversely, only two players played more than 36 minutes for the Blazers: Lillard and McCollum. Taking advantage of the fatigue on the Nuggets will give Portland the edge they need. The Nuggets are sticking with an eight-man rotation. Murray played 46 of 48 minutes in Game Six. Jokic, Paul Millsap and Gary Harris all played 37 or more minutes. Conversely, only two players played more than 36 minutes for the Blazers: Lillard and McCollum. Taking advantage of the fatigue on the Nuggets will give Portland the edge they need. Keep the pressure on. Now is not the time to look forward at all. If the Blazers get a ten-point lead, it needs to be twenty. Twenty needs to be thirty. Both teams are going to leave it all on the floor and throw every haymaker left in their bag. Taking control early and putting the game out of reach needs to be everything. What they’re saying Adams Mares, Ryan Blackburn, and Gordon Gross of Denver Stiffs had a roundtable to discuss what needs to change for the Nuggets: