Denver MVP candidate Nikola Jokic scored 34 points in 36 minutes in a spirited Playoff Game 1 against Portland but it wasn’t enough to contain the Blazers. Once the leader Damian Lillard was blocked by a ferocious marking, they found the collective contribution from three points (19/40) to go away in the third period (86-96) and resist the return of the Nuggets, who managed to get to -3 before capitulating in the final minutes.
Denver – Portland 109-123 (0-1). Boxscore: 34p+15r+1as Jokic, 25 Porter Jr., 16 Gordon, 10 Morris per i Nuggets; 34p+13as Lillard, 21 McCollum, 18 Anthony, 16p+12r Nurkic, 14 Simons, 10 Powell per i Blazers.
