The Denver Nuggets, two days removed from their first-round, game-seven victory over the San Antonio Spurs, opened their Western Conference second-round series with a 121-113 home victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Serbian center Nikola Jokic scored 37 points, pulled down nine rebounds, handed out six assists and blocked two shots.
Both teams came out firing, the Trail Blazers connecting on 63.6 percent of their first-quarter shots and Denver making 61.9 percent of their shots as the first period ended tied 32-32.
Denver, up 58-55 at halftime, pulled away after the break, taking a 93-84 lead into the final period.
Portland, led by 39 points from All-Star guard Damian Lillard, trimmed a 12-point deficit to 101-96 with 8:02 left in the game.
Denver responded with an 8-0 scoring run, ignited by Mason Plumlee’s dunk.
Portland’s CJ McCollum was then whistled for a flagrant foul when he caught a driving Jokic in the face, and the Serbian made both free throws.
Plumlee then slammed home a miss by teammate Malik Beasley and Beasley rebounded another miss and made a layup as the Nuggets seized a 109-96 lead with 6:11 left to play.
Denver were in control from there, although Jokic and coach Mike Malone said they had plenty of room for improvement before they host game two on Wednesday.
“We kind of went into the game a little sloppy, slow, we didn’t play a lot of defence,” Jokic said.
“We got the win, and when you know you haven’t played your best basketball that’s a good feeling,” Malone said.
Malone also felt the Nuggets were lacking defensively, especially in the early going.