The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers played just the second four-overtime playoff game in NBA history.
Denver and Portland battled it out in a highly physical Game 3 at Moda Center. Remarkably, both teams showed plenty of spirit and kept on fighting back leading to the historic extension.
Per Basketball Reference, the Syracuse Nationals-Boston Celtics Game 2 showdown in the 1953 Eastern Conference Semifinals is the only other game that reached four overtimes. The Bob Cousy-led Celts eventually came out on top in that contest, 105-111.
Tied at 129, the @nuggets & @trailblazers become the 2nd game in #NBAPlayoffs history to require a 4th OT. Other: Mar 21, 1953 (Celtics vs Syracuse Nationals in Gm2 of their Eastern Div. Semi-Final)
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) May 4, 2019
After two overtimes, the Nuggets actually had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds of the third OT. However, they failed to take advantage of their lead and gave Blazers superstar Damian Lillard a path to the basket for the game-tying lay-in.
DAME FORCES 4OT! This is the SECOND 4OT GAME in #NBAPlayoffs history!
TUNE IN ON @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/jYRZNflVXt
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2019
The Blazers eventually managed to edge out the Nuggets, 140-137, in the fourth overtime. Rodney Hood came up big for Portland, banking a huge 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left to put them up 138-136.
CJ McCollum led Portland in scoring with 41 points on top of eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Meanwhile, Lillard finished with 28 points, six boards and eight dimes.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic notched a triple-double of 33 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists in a historic 65 minutes of play. Jamal Murray chipped in 34 markers and nine boards for Denver who now trails Portland 2-1.
Follow Us
Subscribe