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Simons' buzzer-beating layup gives the Blazers a 122-120 win over the Nuggets
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Anfernee Simons made a driving layup at the buzzer to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 122-120 victory over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Simons drove to his right and got past defender Russell Westbrook, lofting the ball high off the glass as the horn sounded. He finished with 28 points and 10 assists.
Shaedon Sharpe scored 27 points for the Blazers, who snapped a six-game skid. Deni Avdija added 19 points and Deandre Ayton had 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Jokic had 34 points and eight assists for Denver. Jamal Murray added 24 points and 10 assists, and Westbrook scored 19 points.
Nuggets: Denver struggled defensively against the NBA’s third-worst offense.
Blazers: Ayton was solid in his return after Portland's starting center missed the previous two games with an illness.
Denver trailed by 17 points at the start of the fourth quarter but rallied to take a two-point lead on Michael Porter Jr.'s dunk with just under a minute remaining. Simons and Sharpe made two free throws each to put Portland back on top before Jokic tied it on a layup with 16.8 seconds left.
Portland shot 46.4% to Denver's 54%, but the Blazers got to the foul line more often and made five more free throws on the night. Portland made 16 3-pointers to Denver's 15.
Nuggets: At New Orleans on Sunday.
Trail Blazers: At San Antonio on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nikola Jokic vs. Deandre Ayton (Jamal Murray gains possession) | ||
| 11:52 |  | Aaron Gordon misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:49 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:29 | | Toumani Camara misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:26 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:15 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:11 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 11:03 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:47 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | Jerami Grant turnover (bad pass) (Christian Braun steals) | ||
| 10:29 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running layup | 2-0 |
| 10:05 | | +3 | Jerami Grant makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 2-3 |
| 9:57 | | Deandre Ayton blocks Nikola Jokic's two point driving layup | ||
| 9:55 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Jamal Murray personal foul (Deandre Ayton draws the foul) | ||
| 9:42 | | Jerami Grant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:39 | | Toumani Camara offensive rebound | ||
| 9:36 | | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point driving layup (Anfernee Simons assists) | 2-5 |
| 9:09 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:07 | | Toumani Camara defensive rebound | ||
| 9:01 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving floating jump shot (Toumani Camara assists) | 2-7 |
| 8:49 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 4-7 |
| 8:38 | | Anfernee Simons turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Murray steals) | ||
| 8:32 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 6-7 |
| 8:13 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:11 | | Toumani Camara offensive rebound | ||
| 8:11 | | +2 | Toumani Camara makes two point tip layup | 6-9 |
| 8:01 | | +3 | Christian Braun makes three point stepback jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 9-9 |
| 7:44 | | Jerami Grant misses two point reverse dunk | ||
| 7:42 | | Shaedon Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 7:39 | | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Jerami Grant draws the foul) | ||
| 7:39 | | +1 | Jerami Grant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-10 |
| 7:39 | | +1 | Jerami Grant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-11 |
| 7:27 | | Toumani Camara personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | ||
| 7:15 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 11-11 |
| 7:01 | | +3 | Jerami Grant makes three point jump shot (Shaedon Sharpe assists) | 11-14 |
| 6:52 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamal Murray assists) | 13-14 |
| 6:40 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:38 | | Deandre Ayton offensive rebound | ||
| 6:35 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point turnaround hook shot | 13-16 |
| 6:30 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving finger roll layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 15-16 |
| 6:25 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:23 | | Jerami Grant offensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | Jerami Grant misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:13 | | Shaedon Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 6:13 | | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point tip dunk | 15-18 |
| 6:12 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:55 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 18-18 |
| 5:40 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:37 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running dunk (Russell Westbrook assists) | 20-18 |
| 5:06 | | Toumani Camara turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 4:55 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point stepback jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 22-18 |
| 4:43 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:39 | | Scoot Henderson offensive rebound | ||
| 4:38 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (traveling) | ||
| 4:24 | | Deni Avdija shooting foul (Christian Braun draws the foul) | ||
| 4:24 | | +1 | Christian Braun makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-18 |
| 4:24 | | +1 | Christian Braun makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-18 |
| 4:06 | | +2 | Jerami Grant makes two point driving layup | 24-20 |
| 3:55 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 27-20 |
| 3:46 | | Jerami Grant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:43 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:20 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Christian Braun assists) | 29-20 |
| 3:06 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:04 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Toumani Camara steals) | ||
| 2:57 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 2:55 | | Deandre Ayton offensive rebound | ||
| 2:51 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point turnaround hook shot | 29-22 |
| 2:33 | | Toumani Camara shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | ||
| 2:33 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:33 | | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:33 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 2:33 | | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:28 | | Robert Williams III defensive rebound | ||
| 2:16 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 2:13 | | Robert Williams III offensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Deni Avdija draws the foul) | ||
| 2:11 | | +1 | Deni Avdija makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-23 |
| 2:11 | | +1 | Deni Avdija makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-24 |
| 2:00 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (lost ball) (Scoot Henderson steals) | ||
| 1:55 | | +3 | Deni Avdija makes three point running jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 29-27 |
| 1:39 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point driving layup | 31-27 |
| 1:32 | | Deni Avdija turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Murray steals) | ||
| 1:27 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point running layup | 33-27 |
| 1:04 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 33-30 |
| 0:52 | | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:49 | | Peyton Watson offensive rebound | ||
| 0:46 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point driving reverse layup | 35-30 |
| 0:24 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:21 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 0:04 | | Jump ball. Nikola Jokic vs. Robert Williams III (Julian Strawther gains possession) | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | +3 | Deni Avdija makes three point jump shot (Robert Williams III assists) | 35-33 |
| 11:32 | | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:30 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | ||
| 11:21 | | Deni Avdija personal foul (DeAndre Jordan draws the foul) | ||
| 11:15 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:13 | | Robert Williams III defensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point running jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 35-36 |
| 10:43 | | Russell Westbrook misses two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 35-38 |
| 10:20 | | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point turnaround jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 37-38 |
| 10:06 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving layup | 37-40 |
| 10:06 | | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:06 | | Scoot Henderson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 10:04 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:49 | | +3 | Russell Westbrook makes three point jump shot (Julian Strawther assists) | 40-40 |
| 9:35 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving floating jump shot | 40-42 |
| 9:23 | | Scoot Henderson blocks DeAndre Jordan's two point cutting layup | ||
| 9:22 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:17 | | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:15 | | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | ||
| 8:59 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:57 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 8:39 | | +3 | Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 43-42 |
| 8:23 | | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 43-45 |
| 8:10 | | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:08 | | Donovan Clingan defensive rebound | ||
| 7:58 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point driving layup (Anfernee Simons assists) | 43-47 |
| 7:57 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:51 | | Deandre Ayton blocks Christian Braun's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:50 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 7:35 | | Jerami Grant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:32 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 7:26 | | Peyton Watson turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 7:15 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:12 | | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:58 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 46-47 |
| 6:42 | | DeAndre Jordan blocks Scoot Henderson's two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 6:40 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 6:36 | | Jerami Grant shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 6:36 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-47 |
| 6:36 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-47 |
| 6:27 | | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Deandre Ayton draws the foul) | ||
| 6:27 | | +1 | Deandre Ayton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-48 |
| 6:27 | | Deandre Ayton misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 6:24 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 6:22 | | Christian Braun misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:20 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 6:12 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Jerami Grant assists) | 48-50 |
| 5:47 | | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:45 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 5:39 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point running jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 48-52 |
| 5:19 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Shaedon Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 5:13 | | +2 | Shaedon Sharpe makes two point running layup | 48-54 |
| 5:03 | | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 4:56 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 51-54 |
| 4:40 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point hook shot (Shaedon Sharpe assists) | 51-56 |
| 4:16 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point dunk (Russell Westbrook assists) | 53-56 |
| 4:04 | | Scoot Henderson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:47 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 55-56 |
| 3:34 |