Nuggets vs. Blazers 3-pointers: Denver was slow from the start, falls in Game 4 against Portland – The Denver Post

1. Nurkic’s impact. Portland center Jusuf Nurkic had by far his best game of the series. From the outset he was aggressive on offense, forcing the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic to work hard on defense. Look for the Trail Blazers to continue that strategy. Nurkic finished with 17 points in 27 minutes and a plus-32 rating.

2. Powell busts loose. Norman Powell, the veteran wingman from UCLA, has had a fairly quiet series, until Saturday. Powell starred at both ends, with a career playoff-high 29 points, including 4-for-4 from deep. He also played a big role in Portland’s energetic showing at the defensive end.

3. Where’s the energy? Denver appeared a step slow from the opening tip, with Portland’s starters dominating. The Nuggets’ bench brought Denver back in the second quarter but Portland blew the game open in the third. Just a normal hiccup in the playoffs? Or are Jokic and the Nuggets a bit worn down?

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