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PORTLAND, Ore. – Jamal Murray opened the game in Game 4 after being forced to take a rainbow shot faded behind the basket that floated above the panel and fell.
The guard sealed the game with six free throws in the final 13.2 seconds to help the Denver Nuggets win their most courageous win of the season with a 116-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and even their half-time. final among the top seven of the Western Conference. series 2-2.
A little over 40 hours after losing the third match of a grueling marathon that was the longest in the NBA playoff history, the Nuggets returned to the Moda Center, determined not to let fatigue decide the outcome of their season. They responded by recovering home field advantage as the series turned to Denver for the fifth game on Tuesday.
"You get down from 1 to 3, we all know how this story ends," said Denver coach Michael Malone. "We never frayed, we stayed together and I can not say enough about the strength and tenacity of our team."
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The brains as tired as his legs after the testamentary testament of 3 hours and 25 minutes on Friday, the Nuggets led Murray and Nikola Jokic to their biggest rebound victory of the season. The duo is only the second pair of teammates to record a triple-double and a 30-point play in consecutive playoffs since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, of the Lakers, made it in 1980 against the Suns, according to Elias Sports Research Bureau.
Murray opened the game with his rainbow kick behind the Larry Bird-like basket and emphatic dunk in the first quarter against Enes Kanter with a scowl to set the tone for Denver. Murray scored 34 points for the second consecutive game with five rebounds and four assists.
After recording 65 minutes of play in the third game, Jokic offered his second consecutive triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, although he almost booed whenever he touched the ball by supporters heal a wounded left shoulder.
"We just figured that if we win today, the last game will not matter," said Jokic. "Yes, we played four times more, it was exhausting, but we want the last game does not really count."
Malone gave his team the basketball weekend on Saturday, as he wanted his players to physically and mentally refresh themselves after the 140-137 loss, lost four times on Friday. No movie. No shot. Just visits with training staff if necessary.
"For me, I eat well, I watch a TV show, I eat well again, I sleep," said Jokic. "And to be honest, I have not thought about this game all day."
The Nuggets were scared with 47.9 seconds to go when Jokic limped off the bench after being shot in the right knee. Jokic said his body was numb, but he came back at the end of the match and said he was fine.
Most would have expected Jokic's 7-foot, 285-pound body to become numb after playing the highest number of minutes in the playoffs by an NBA player since 1953. But the center of the stars responded with his fourth playoff triple-double, scoring the second double-double by one player in his first playoff series, behind the five Johnson.
Jokic's passes were visible when the match was online. He allowed four assists for Denver's huge baskets after the Blazers reduced the Nuggets' lead to one spot in 3:26.
"Free throws [are] my thing, "said Murray, who is a career free throw shooter at 87.9%." My dad and I do a lot of free throw training, blindfolded. He's going to talk to me like the crowd, put the pressure on me. Practice 1,000 free throws to make one or two. Tonight, it ended up being six. "
In what is the first playoff game for many young Nuggets, Denver lost the first game in the first round at home and the third and third games in San Antonio. Each time, the team rebounded with what was fundamentally a match to be won against the Spurs.
After the biggest rebound of the Nuggets so far, keep Gary Harris was asked about the resilience of Nuggets.
"Everyone just learned this word now?" Jokic asked, standing next to Harris in the locker room.
Nobody questions the courage of the Nuggets after overcoming one of the most difficult situations for a team. It's not since 1953, when the only game in the four-over playoffs was played, that a team had to bounce back after such a heartbreaking defeat both physically and mentally.
"I was really confident because in tight games this year we are 13-3, decided by three points or less," said Malone. "We are 12-1 in the second nights of a second consecutive record, NBA's best record."
"Coming here and winning this game 36 hours after losing four games in overtime shows how difficult we are."
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