NBA Playoffs 2018-19: 3 Talking points from Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers

Final Score: Denver Nuggets 116 - 112 Portland Trail Blazers

After an epic matchup in Game 3 that needed 4 overtimes to decide the winner, the two teams met once again for Game 4 with the Denver Nuggets looking to win the game and get back the home court advantage.

It was back-and-forth affair and the Blazers entered half-time with a 6-point lead. However, the Nuggets stormed back in the second half outscoring the Blazers 27-14 in the third quarter. The Blazers tried fighting back in the fourth quarter but the Nuggets would hold on to a victory, tying the series 2-2.

Let us take a look at three talking points from the Denver Nuggets' close win at the Moda Center, Portland.

#3 CJ McCollum's efficient shooting kept the Blazers in the game

CJ made tough contested shots to keep the Blazers in the game

Stat line: 29 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal on 50.0 % shooting

CJ McCollum's rise in the NBA is nothing short of legendary. The Lehigh product is one of the most underappreciated guards in the league and never really gets the attention or praise he truly deserves.

McCollum and Lillard are one of the best backcourt duos in the NBA and it is incredible how they led the Blazers to the third seed in West for two straight seasons. The 27-year-old was stellar in the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, averaging 24.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 45.6 % shooting.

He entered the conference semifinals high on confidence but had a disappointing performance in Game 1, scoring just 17 points (7-for-17 shooting) in the loss. However, McCollum bounced back quickly in Game 2 (W) scoring 20 points and Game 3 (W) scoring 41 points in 60 minutes of action.

In Game 4, McCollum showed up once again as he made a basket whenever the Blazers needed one. With the Blazers down by 4 and just 6.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he knocked down a quick catch-and-shoot two-pointer (the refs changed the ruling to two as his foot just touched the line) to cut the Nuggets' lead to two points.

McCollum finished the night with 29 points on 10-for-20 shooting. He is averaging 26.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this series.

#2 Nikola Jokic's triple-double performance

Nikola Jokic put together an impressive triple-double in Game 4

Stat line: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals on 53.3 % shooting

Nikola Jokic's graph has only been upwards since the day he entered the league. The Serbian has shown improvement year after year and averaged career-high numbers across all the statistical categories this regular season.

He averaged a double-double (20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game) for the second straight year and the opposition teams had no answer as the 24-year-old tore apart the defenses.

In the Game 3 that ended in 4 OT, a couple of days ago, Jokic logged 65 minutes and looked really exhausted towards the end of the game. It is a known fact that the playoffs are more physical and the Blazers have been doing everything in their reach to not make it easy for Jokic in the paint.

With stakes at an all-time high entering Game 4 for the Nuggets, Jokic put together an impressive triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists on 8-for-15 shooting. He was very aggressive and ended the night with a brilliant all-round performance.

#1 Jamal Murray's clutch night

Jamal Murray erupted for 34 points and was clutch in the fourth quarter to lead the Nuggets to victory

Stat line: 34 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 50.0 % shooting

Jamal Murray is one of the most underrated guards in the league and is one of the key reasons why the Denver Nuggets have been so dominant this year. In the regular season, he averaged career-high 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, played his part in leading the Nugget to a 54-28 record (2nd in West).

In the first round of the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs, it was Murray who delivered the dagger, making a clutch floater to sink them in seven games. He has continued his form into the conference semifinals and has been great in the first three games of the series.

Coming off a 34-point performance in Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Murray erupted for 34 points and was clutch in the fourth quarter to lead the Nuggets to victory. He made 6 clutch free throws in 14 seconds to keep the game away from Blazers.

He scored 12 of his 34 points in the final period and also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists on the night.