Murray considered returning late in the regular season during the prior year but knew he needed to allow his left knee to recover longer. “I’ve never smiled in a loss before,” he said after the game. For the first time since tearing his ACL in April of 2021, Murray was back on the court for a regular-season game. Jamal Murray scored just 12 points in a season-opening loss to Utah, yet after the game, you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. Here are 12 of the team’s defining moments: All smiles Saturday marked the first time a team started five rookies since the Golden State Warriors on April 26, 2012, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menuĭenver’s historic run has been months in the making. Henderson started along with Camara, Reath, Kris Murray and Rayan Rupert. We were getting paint touches and then spraying 3s.”Ī free throw from Dalano Banton cut Denver’s lead to 85-83 heading into the final period. “I think in the second half, we were really finding that shot, getting into the paint and then kicking out. “I think some of the ones we took in the first half weren’t the ones that we wanted,” Henderson said of Portland’s shooting. Portland fouled Jackson with 1.9 seconds and he made one of two at the line again, but Kris Murray’s full-court heave to tie missed.Īfter going 0 for 11 from deep in the first half, Portland made six 3-pointers in the third quarter to get back into it. After Gordon split a pair of foul shots of his own, Henderson made another layup to make it 113-111. Henderson’s layup with 10 seconds left made it 112-109 after Jackson split a pair of free throws. Henderson responded with a layup to make it 111-107 with 27 seconds remaining. The Blazers forced a turnover and cut the lead to 109-105 on a layup by Toumani Camara with 50.5 seconds left.Ī layup from Jackson pushed the Nuggets ahead 111-105. “We just wanted to get stops, stop offensive rebounds and just make sure we got good shots.”Īfter Porter gave the Nuggets a 109-98 lead with 2:04 remaining, Portland made its final run starting with a 3-pointer by Reath. “When we called timeout, our leaders of the team were taking over the huddle making sure we were locked in,” Jackson said of Denver’s resolve in the second half.

3 overall pick in last year’s draft, finished with 22 points and six assists as the Blazers dropped their sixth straight. Rookie Duop Reath led the Trail Blazers with 24 points. 'We didn’t play any defense in (third) quarter, but down the stretch we made enough plays to get the win.” Give them credit, they came out of halftime with a head of steam and got us on our heels. “I’m proud of our group for just fighting through it. “Any time you can win a game without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, especially on the road, you’re always going to take that,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. The reigning champs have won eight of their last nine and are 14-2 since the All-Star Break. The Nuggets won without their star duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on a night when the Blazers became the second team to start five rookies since NBA box scores started tracking starters in the 1971-72 season. Reggie Jackson scored 23 points, Aaron Gordon had 22 points and 12 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-111 on Saturday night.

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