Nuggets go cold from 3-point range, fall in Game 2 to Trail Blazers

Jamal Murray found himself wide open from the top of the 3-point arc with a little under four minutes remaining. He rose, fired, and after rattling around the rim for a few moments, the ball gently fell through the rim as the Nuggets trimmed the Trail Blazers’ lead to seven points.

Murray exhaled, looked towards Pepsi Center’s ceiling and ran back on defense. It was his first made 3 since the first quarter and what seemed like the Nuggets’ first long-range strike since Game 1. But unfortunately for the Nuggets, it was their last 3 of the night.

Denver fell 97-90 as the Nuggets shot 6 of 29 from 3.

The Nuggets trimmed the lead to 94-88 with a little over a minute remaining but misses from close range, a theme of Denver’s first loss at home since their first game of the playoffs, haunted the Nuggets all night. Denver also shot just 16 of 26 from the free-throw line.

Nikola Jokic finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Murray added 15 points, and seven rebounds. Paul Millsap and Malik Beasley chipped in 14 and 13 points respectively.

Murray and Trail Blazers’ center Enes Kanter were both assessed technical fouls for their roles in a scuffle near half-court late in the fourth quarter. Kanter was pushed into Torrey Craig, who had already suffered a nose contusion earlier in the night and was playing with a mask. Murray confronted Kanter at mid-court, who finished 15 points and nine rebounds in Portland’s win.

Game 3 is Friday in Portland.