After splitting the Northwest Division championship last season, the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets kicked off their regular season series in thrilling fashion. Behind a spectacular performance from Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets (2-0) came into the Rose Garden and pulled out a 97-94 victory over the Trail Blazers (1-1).
Although this was only the second game of the regular season, there was a playoff atmosphere inside the Rose Garden from the opening tip. Right out of the gate, Anthony put his entire skill set on display, scoring 12 points in the first quarter and leading the Nuggets to a 24-17 by the end of the quarter. However, it was in the final quarter that Anthony took over the game. With Portland leading by five points entering the fourth quarter, Anthony put the Nuggets on his back and scored 19 of his game-high 41 points to help propel his team to the win.
With this game being such an important match up between these division rivals, Anthony knows how key getting this victory is.
“There’s a rivalry between us and Portland,” the Nuggets star said after the game. “For us to come here in their home court and get this game early in the season, it is important for us.”
While the Trail Blazers were effective enough on the offensive end to score 94 points, the team struggled from the field shooting the ball. For the game, Portland shot the ball 81 times from the field in comparison to only 61 for the Nuggets. However, the Trail Blazers were unable to find any sort of consistency, which is highlighted by the 34% the team shot from the field. According to Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan, Denver did an effective job of taking away any scoring options in the paint.
“I thought offensively they tried to take away the inside and we didn’t shoot the ball,” McMillan commented on the offense. “81 attempts, we shoot 34% from the field. We had some open looks that we need to knock down.”
In the defeat, Brandon Roy led the Trail Blazers with 30 points. His performance was highlighted by an explosive third quarter, which saw Roy score 16 points, including a three pointer at the buzzer. Despite the strong individual performance, the inability to put the Nuggets away left Roy frustrated.
“We felt we had control, but it was one of those games where we were playing their pace and we just couldn’t seem to separate,” Roy said of the loss. “They made plays down the stretch that they needed to to get the win.”
Rudy Fernandez continues to show no effects of the back injury that plagued him throughout the preseason. In the fourth quarter alone, Fernandez shot perfectly from both the field and from the charity stripe, in scoring 16 of his 23 points. Martell Webster also continued his nice start to the regular season, with ten points and some terrific hustle plays on both ends of the court.
The Trail Blazers return to action on Saturday night when they visit the Houston Rockets. This will mark the second game between the two teams already, as Portland opened the season with a 96-87 victory over Houston.
NATE MCMILLAN
“I think it was a few things. First, the free throw line – 49 free throws (for Denver) is a ton of free throws and we knew this was a team that was going to be attacking out there and getting to the free throw line and they did. We need to do a better job of keeping them out of the paint, rotating early, but keeping them off the free throw line.
“There were a few possessions where we didn’t get the rebound, the board. We forced them to miss and you’ve got to make those plays, make those breaks. I thought offensively they tried to take away the inside and we didn’t shoot the ball. 81 attempts, we shoot 34% from the floor. We had some open looks that we need to knock down."
BRANDON ROY
“We felt we had control but it was one of those games where we were playing their pace and we just couldn’t seem to separate. They made the plays down the stretch that they needed to to get the win.”
On effect of foul calls
“I think it benefited them a bit more coming off a back to back. They were tired but anytime you slow the game down that much, it gives them a chance to recover. But you’ve got to give them a lot of credit. They played this 48 minute game and they made the plays down the stretch better than we did so got to give Denver a lot of credit and we’ve got to do a better job.”
GREG ODEN
“It was tough. I definitely stepped up there with confidence, thinking I was going to hit it and it didn’t go that way. I put this loss on me, I need to step up and make those. Being a part of this team, all of us need to step up and I didn’t do it tonight with those free throws.”
“It would definitely be nice to have that victory. It’s a really good team, it’s a confidence game, and it’s here at our home court – all of those we want to get and we want to win.”
“They’re called free throws for a reason. You’ve got to make those.”
• Tonight’s game marks the 73rd consecutive sellout at the Rose Garden (including playoffs).
• The Trail Blazers have played their first two games at home for the first time since the opening season at the Rose Garden, 1995-96.
• Tonight’s game marked Portland’s ninth straight vs. either Denver or Houston … The Trail Blazers faced Denver in the 2008-09 regular season finale, played a six-game playoff series vs. Houston and opened the 2009-10 campaign vs. Houston … Saturday’s game at Houston will make 10 straight.
• The Trail Blazers held a 12-0 advantage in offensive rebounding and 12-0 edge in second chance points at the half … The Nuggets did not grab an offensive rebound until the 3:38 mark of the third quarter.
• Portland has gained a 95-69 rebounding advantage in two games this season, including a 26-15 edge on the offensive glass.
• After totaling 26 turnovers in the season opener, more than in any game last season, the Trail Blazers turned the ball over only seven times tonight, just one more than their 2008-09 season low.
• Tonight’s nationally televised game is just the first of four scheduled national TV games between these teams (every meeting this season).
• Portland went 23-4 against teams playing in the second game of a back-to-back last season … Denver played last night, defeating Utah, 114-105, in Denver.
• The Trail Blazers did not lose (26-0) at home when leading after the first half in any game in 2008-09 ... Portland carried a 43-42 lead at the half tonight.
• Portland now has as many losses by three points or less this year as it accrued all of last season (league-best 9-1).
• Brandon Roy reached 30 points for the first time this season after doing so on 12 occasions a season ago … He scored 16 (4-6 FG, 2-4 3-PT, 6-7 FT) of Portland’s 24 points in the third quarter.
• Rudy Fernandez notched his fourth career game with 20 or more points … He netted 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter … He finished three short of his career-high 25.
• Portland took a 6-0 lead to begin the game despite missing its first three field goal attempts and four of its first five … Denver missed its first five shots from the field and did not score until the 7:44 mark of the first quarter.
• The Nuggets went on a 10-0 run to end the first quarter, and then Portland began the second quarter with an 11-0 run to take a 28-24 lead.
• Neither team led by double figures at any point in the game.
• Juwan Howard saw action for the first time in the regular season as a Trail Blazer, his seventh career team.
• Carmelo Anthony’s 41 points are the most scored by a player in a game in the NBA on the young season … Anthony currently leads the league in scoring (35.5) after leading the league during the preseason (23.6) … He has now scored 30-plus points in both games so far this season … Anthony’s 20 points (5-7 FG, 9-9 FT) were nearly half of Denver’s total in the first half (42).
• Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups combined for 63 of Denver’s 97 points … No other Nuggets reach double figures.
• Denver had not won (0-3) when playing its road opener in Portland before tonight.
