Nuggets hammer Blazers, 124-98, take 3-2 series lead

The Nuggets scored the game’s first seven points. The Blazers answered.

Denver took a 14 point lead midway through the second quarter. Portland closed to within 7.

But the Nuggets were relentless and the Blazers had no more answers.

The Nuggets took an 18-point lead into the locker room and then blew away the Blazers in the second half, cruising to a 124-98 win and claiming a 3-2 series lead.

Denver can close out the series on Thursday night in Portland.

Nikola Jokic continued his stellar play with 25 points and 19 rebounds. Paul Millsap set the tone with 19 first-half points. He would finish with 24. Jamal Murray added 18.

The Nuggets lead by as many as 31 points and never gave Portland a chance to reclaim the momentum, assuming one believes the Blazers had any momentum in the first place.

Denver has not reached the western conference finals since 2009. That will change if they can close out the series against the Blazers in game 6 in Portland.