PORTLAND, ORE. — The Nuggets’ last night of the 2015-16 season went as so many of the others did. They played hard, and at many points well, but didn’t have enough to win.
Portland got what it was looking for in a 107-99 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday night at the Moda Center — momentum going into the playoffs.
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They Blazers used a big third quarter to separate themselves and ride the wave to the win. A 10-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter provided the knockout blow. The Nuggets never recovered to make a meaningful game of it.
The Nuggets finished 33-49, an improvement over last season but still the 10th-worst record in the NBA. They’ll be in the lottery for a third straight season, though this one ends with the organization seeing a more realistic path to a playoff run next season after playing a more solid brand of basketball under first-year coach Michael Malone
“I thanked all of our players for the opportunity to coach them,” Malone said. “I thought they were a great group to be around. It’s a tough way to end the season, with a loss, but I feel really good about the direction we’re headed. There’s a lot of optimism.”
The Blazers started the game knowing they were locked into the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Neither Damian Lillard nor C.J. McCollum played in the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, went out in a sea of turnovers. The miscues were a problem all game long. Portland cashed in 20 Nuggets turnovers in for 23 points.
The Nuggets were led by Emmanuel Mudiay’s 25 points and six assists. Nikola Jokic added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who lost five of their last six games.
“I just want all of those guys to get away, go spend some time with their families and decompress and get their bodies right,” Malone said. “And then we’ll get back to work.”
