Fatigue. This might be a bigger obstacle for the Nuggets than the Trail Blazers because Denver is trying to come back from the loss. played 65 minutes, played 55 while battling nagging shoulder-and-thigh injuries and and each played over 48. For Portland, which played ridiculous minute allotments as well, it was a lot easier to sleep after a win.
“So I apologized to (Jokic) in the locker room; I said, “Listen–” and he doesn’t complain; he said, “You don’t have to apologize.” But I mean, I’ve never seen that – 64:58 – that’s a real number; that is a real number,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
Slowing Hood. According to Malone, reserve Rodney Hood was the MVP of Portland’s Game 3 win. Both teams had more or less reached a stalemate when Blazers coach Terry Stotts turned to Hood in the fourth overtime as a result of cramps plaguing Moe Harkless. Hood, with his length and ability to score one-on-one, changed the dynamic of the game. Frankly, he also had fresher legs than almost everyone on the court. He had seven points in the final 1:44 of the win, including the winning 3-pointer, and is averaging 17 points in the three games against the Nuggets.
Paul Millsap. Denver’s playoff veteran could be an X-factor in Game 4. With the burden the Nuggets threw on Jokic in Game 3, it will be on Millsap to exploit Portland’s frontcourt on Sunday. He’s played well in each game this series and even occasionally demanded a double team. Given his strength and the Blazers’ preferred lineups, he almost always ends up with a mismatch inside against wing Al-Farouq Aminu. He needs to exploit that.
