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It’s worth noting that teams capturing Game 1 of a best-of-seven series on the road go on to win the series 52% of the time. The performance served as one of several strong efforts from Portland’s supporting cast, as McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Norman Powell and Anfernee Simons combined to contribute 61 points on top of the 52 combined points churned out by Lillard and Anthony.
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the Nuggets in Game 1.Īnthony tacked on another 3-pointer in the second quarter to lead all Blazers in scoring at intermission with 15 points. Anthony’s first long-range bucket off a Lillard assist sparked a 9-0 run that ballooned into an 15-4 spurt to end the opening frame, with the veteran wing contributing 12 points during the run.Īnthony finished the first quarter with a team-high 12 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field, including 3-of-3 from deep in just five minutes on the floor.Ĭarmelo Anthony scored a crucial 18 points vs. Three minutes and six seconds later, Anthony was knocking down his second-consecutive 3-pointer to tie the game at 26 points. Portland trailed by 3 points when Anthony subbed into the game. Anthony finished the game with 18 points, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 4-for-8 from deep as one of six double-figure scorers.ĭamian Lillard scored a game-high 34 points to go with 13 assists, but Denver certainly never expected for Anthony to make such an impact off the bench. The crafty veteran showed it against the Nuggets with a brilliant first-half shooting display that proved key in the Trail Blazers seizing a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series set to resume on Monday at Ball Arena. 3 overall pick of the Nuggets in the 2003 draft, Anthony mentioned Wednesday that “Denver will always hold something special to me.” McCollum with 4:51 left in the opening quarter of Portland’s 123-109 win over Denver in Game 1 of the first round of Western Conference Playoffs. The boos cascaded down to the floor at Ball Arena when Carmelo Anthony checked in for C.J. Carmelo Anthony exploded in the early minutes of Portland’s Game 1 victory, scoring 12 points in the first quarter.
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