Phenomenal! Blazers Beat Nuggets 100-96 in Game 7

Just amazing. Despite losing Rodney Hood, the Portland Trail Blazers mounted a 17-point comeback to take down the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals, 100-96 (Box Score).

Hood suffered a hyperextended knee in the third quarter.

Here are the basics from Denver.

• First-half disaster. The Blazers didn’t score for minutes at a time, while watching the Nuggets dance to the hoop. Portland was nearly doubled-up late in the first (29-15), and sat on 19 points three minutes. It was a small miracle that Portland was within 9 at halftime, even though it ended with Lillard missing another three-pointer.
• Third quarter comeback? Portland found a way to crawl back into the game, despite the Hood injury, and even took the lead in the final seconds, before Harkless committed a foul on a three-pointer. The Blazers only trailed by 1 after three.
• Fourth quarter glory! CJ McCollum took over in the fourth, as the Denver Nuggets went cold. Portland slowly slipped into the lead as the quarter progressed, and each time the Nuggets closed the gap, McCollum hit another key shot or, on one break, a key block.

What’s Next

For the first time in 19 years, the Portland Trail Blazers are playing in the Conference Finals. They tip off against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night.