Denver Nuggets take another step towards the WCF, outlast Blazers in Game 1

The Denver Nuggets are one step closer to a Western Conference Finals appearance after outlasting the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1

After inching by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs over the weekend, predicting what we were going to see from the Denver Nuggets in their second-round series against the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers would not be easy.

However, what we saw from the Nuggets in Game 1 has to be encouraging. Led by Nikola Jokic‘s 37 points, nine rebounds and six assists, the Nuggets outlasting Damian Lillard and the Blazers. Denver leads the best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinals series 1-0.

Jamal Murray picked up where he left off during the latter portion of their first-round series against the Spurs, scoring 23 points and dropping eight assists. Paul Millsap added 19 points and six rebounds, while their bench mob chipped in with 28.

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There wasn’t much defense played in Game 1 between the two teams, as both teams shot over 50 percent from the field. In the end, the Blazers simply turned the ball over too much and despite Lillard’s best efforts – he finished with 39 points on the night – Portland could not overcome Denver’s onslaught.

At least for Game 1, the Nuggets looked a bit more like the well-balanced and in control team that we got used to seeing during the regular season. Perhaps most importantly, they no longer have the stress of winning their first playoff series in seven years.

Beating the Spurs may not have been a big accomplishment for many teams, but for this young Nuggets team, it was. This was a team that was being overlooked and taken for granted; not many believed in them because of their lack of playoff experience and because they were facing off against the storied Spurs.

However, it was the Nuggets that emerged from that grueling seven-game playoff series. Seeding aside, in a vacuum, most would assume the Spurs to come out of that first-round series. However, Denver, to a certain extent, defied the odds.

Over just the last week, we’ve seen growth from both Murray and Jokic. We’ve seen adjustments from head coach Mike Malone. We’ve seen this team look more and more comfortable as the playoffs have gone on.

And if the Nuggets continue on this pace, there’s no question they’re going to have a great chance to up-end the Blazers in this series and eventually find themselves in the Western Conference Finals.

Prior to the season, if you said that the Nuggets would be 1-0 up in the Western Conference Semifinals (and with homecourt advantage), you would’ve been laughed out of the room. However, even if you have discredited the Nuggets all season long, it’s time that we give Denver the respect that they deserve.

The likes of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are not just players on a hot streak. These are legit stars in the NBA. They should be household names sooner rather than later. Paul Millsap is a name that we know for the recent past and is supplying this team with, evidently, enough experience to get by.

The supporting cast of Will Barton, Malik Beasley, and Mason Plumlee have been valuable to this team too. Interestingly, these are also names that not many casual basketball fans know. But that needs – or should – change quickly.

The Denver Nuggets are for real and, now after a key Game 1 victory, are only three wins away from being on the same stage as the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets (whichever prevails) in the Western Conference Finals.