Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic shoots over Meyers Leonard of the Portland Trail Blazers in the Nuggets 121-113 win in game one of the Western Conference semifinals on MOnday, April 29, 2019. (Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Monday night, Denver Nuggets center was a match-up nightmare for the Portland Trail Blazers.
That made for sweet dreams for the Nuggets, who pulled away in the second half and captured game one of the Western Conference semifinals, 121-113, at Pepsi Center.
Jokic finished with 37 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and helped the Nuggets outscore the Trail Blazers by six points in a pivotal third quarter.
Despite a sluggish first half, the Nuggets led 58-55 at halftime. Then they turned up the defense and hit some timely three-pointers while outscoring Portland 35-29 in the third.
Jamal Murray added 23 points. Paul Millsap added 19 points and 6 rebounds and was the go-to player offensively early in the game for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets have a 1-0 series lead and host the Trail Blazers in game two on Wednesday night.
Tip will be at 7 p.m. MDT.
Postgame comments from Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
Postgame comments from Nuggets forward Paul Millsap.
Postgame comments from Nuggets guard Gary Harris.
Postgame comments from Nuggets guard Malik Beasley.
Postgame comments from Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Postgame comments from Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts.