Austin Rivers writes the next chapter of his story in Game 3

I’m a firm believer in karma. I believe that good things generally happen to good people. That hard work most of the time gets rewarded. That if you buy into a plan, a process, or a belief, you’ll reap the benefits in the end.

The Austin Rivers story is about a lot of things. It’s a story about a former lottery pick who was humbled and then forgotten. It’s about a 28-year-old whose career was at a crossroads and was faced with a choice of whether to blame everyone else or fix himself. It’s about a former score-first guard who committed to a culture and role that a contender ravaged by injuries desperately needed him to.

Rivers has done all the right things since he arrived in Denver. The Nuggets signed him to a 10-day contract in late April, a trial run to see how he’d fit on and off the court (but mostly off). He passed Denver’s test with flying colors. On Thursday, that good karma came through in a big way.

Game 3 of the Nuggets and Trail Blazers’ first-round series will be forever known as the Austin Rivers game. After scoring just five points on 2-5 shooting through three quarters, Rivers exploded in the fourth to help lift Denver to a 120-115 win. Rivers tallied 16 points over the final 12 minutes of regulation and went 4-5 from three-point range.

The Nuggets now lead the Trail Blazers 2-1 in the series. Game 4 is Saturday at 2 p.m. MT in Portland.

“It feels good. I don’t know how much I can elaborate on that. It just feels really good,” Rivers said. ” This game can bring you the lowest feeling in the world. I swear on some of these nights you can feel so low. And then this game can make you feel so good about yourself too. It’s a beautiful game.”

Game 3 was as back-and-forth as you expected it to be. Portland predictably punched first, getting out to an early eight-point lead before Denver countered. Nikola Jokic swished four three-pointers on his way to a 36-point night but looked like he was battling fatigue as the second half wore on. Michael Porter Jr. struggled defensively but was huge in the second quarter when he poured in 11 points. Aaron Gordon (13 points, 4 rebounds), Facu Campazzo (11 points, 8 rebounds, assists), and JaMychal Green (eight points, 2-3 from three) made momentum-changing plays as well.

The unlikeliest of heroes brought the Nuggets home. Rivers looked hesitant and passed up several open looks early on in Game 3, but seized the moment when for the first time in the series there was a question of if Jokic would be able to deliver late.

First, Rivers hit a high-arching three to break a 91-91 tie with 5:43 remaining in the fourth that barely got over CJ McCollum’s fingertips. Then, a contested corner triple from right in front of the Blazers’ bench that pushed Denver’s lead to five points with under five minutes to go. On his next shot from beyond the arc, Rivers went between his legs, got McCollum staggering backward, and launched an absolute no-doubter that was never hitting rim. It was right out of his high school mixtape that some of his teammates grew up watching.

The net barely moved on Rivers’ final three of the fourth too, a catch-and-shoot missile that came off a feed from Jokic which put the Nuggets up eight with 1:24 on the clock.

A furious Portland rally led by Damian Lillard made the Nuggets sweat down the stretch. But Jokic corralled the offensive rebound off the second of two straight missed free-throws from Monte Morris with 3.2 seconds remaining and converted to put the Nuggets up 120-115 and clinch the win.

It’s a victory the Nuggets will enjoy before getting back to the drawing board and preparing for whatever adjustments Portland will make ahead of Game 4, even if it seems like Terry Stotts may not have too many other cards to play. Denver played Enes Kanter off the court and probably out of the series in Game 3 as the Blazers’ bench continues to shrink in trusted bodies by the game. No one on Portland’s roster has a prayer in stopping Jokic, and the prospects of doubling the NBA’s MVP and forcing the ball out of his hands look bleak after Denver shot above 48% from three for a second-straight game.

However, the Nuggets are in unfamiliar territory. Under Michael Malone, Denver has never led a playoff series 2-1.

“They’re going to come out ultra-aggressive because they’re not going to want to go back to Denver down 3-1,” Malone said looking ahead to Game 4. “We’re going to get everything, the kitchen sink, you name it, come Saturday afternoon.”

The Nuggets will also need another strong game from Rivers, who has become an absolutely integral piece to Denver’s rotation after injuries to Jamal Murray, Will Barton and PJ Dozier. When you take a step back it’s really a wild notion. Rivers, who just joined Denver one month ago, is starting and playing a required role in a playoff series against one of the league’s best backcourt.

How in the world are the Nuggets up 2-1 on Lillard and McCollum? How do they continue to do the impossible? Well, Denver has the MVP and the best player in the NBA, and Rivers and the Nuggets’ other role players simply do what’s asked of them.

How well Rivers has played is a testament to the Nuggets empowering him to be himself. Rivers also deserves credit for the strides he’s made, not so much as a basketball player but as a person. Othe top-flight organizations — and even other contenders I was told — were scared off by Rivers’ reputation. They were worried about Rivers’ character, his personality, and that he wouldn’t be a fit in their locker room. Denver was confident that it could be the perfect landing spot for him.

“My basketball ability was never questioned,” Rivers said. “It was who I was as a person, which is actually even worse. Truthfully, it broke my heart. Because I know who I am and I always had good relationships with people, but you can have one instance or a mistake and be labeled something.”

The Nuggets should have been confident that they were the right place for Rivers’ reclamation. If you haven’t followed this team throughout the Jokic era it may be difficult to wrap your head around, but Denver’s culture is special. It’s unlike anything else in the NBA. It’s a culture that’s set by president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, Malone and Jokic and trickles down to the rest of the roster.

It’s a culture built on sacrifice, selflessness, and hard work. In Denver, you sacrifice points, stats, and accolades for the betterment of the team. No matter what, you support your teammates even if they’re taking your minutes. No matter what, you play hard.

Rivers 100% bought into Denver’s culture from the moment he slipped on a Nuggets jersey for the first time. In Game 3, that commitment paid off.

“Everything that I’ve gone through over the past two months has taught me just to never take anything for granted,” he said. “It helps me play with a different type of chip on my shoulder and a different type of hunger. Because I promised myself I would never be back in that situation ever again, and I won’t be. No matter what, I’ll play on that court with every ounce of energy I have.”