Anfernee Simons' Uncontested Driving Layup Sinks Nuggets on the Horry Scale

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Portland did it the hard way Thursday, taking a 17-point lead over visiting Denver into the fourth quarter, squandering all of it to fall behind by two with a minute remaining, and finally persevering 126-124 on Anfernee Simons’ finesse layup at the buzzer.

GAME SITUATION: Seemingly powerless against a better, more experienced team, the Trail Blazers absorbed a series of body blows as the Nuggets outscored them by 19 points over the final 11 minutes of the fourth quarter. But they showed admirable poise, hitting four clutch free throws in the final minute to give themselves a chance to win it after Nikola Jokić tied the game at 124 with 16.8 seconds left.

DIFFICULTY: It’s difficult to draw up a relatively uncontested layup for the game-winner, but that’s how it played out. Simons simply ran down the clock, blew past Russell Westbrook off the dribble and, with Jokić or any other Nugget too slow to help, kissed the high-percentage shot off glass as time expired.

Even Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was surprised at the ease of Simons’ shot, having expected the Nuggets to trap the ball out of his hands. Indeed, his main concern on the final possession was not leaving any time on the clock for Denver to rebound a miss and to steal the game with a winner of its own.

“I just wanted to make sure we got the last shot,” Billups said. “I felt he did a pretty good job of getting to the basket. I thought they were going to fire on him late. I told him, I don’t know who’s going to take this last shot, just make sure we get the last shot. And if they fire on him, I’m comfortable with any of you guys to take it.

“But they never did.”

CELEBRATION: Known for his reserved demeanor, Simons ranks among the NBA’s more stoic players. But even he couldn’t resist a quick celebratory clap and a smile as his teammates rushed over to mob him.

“Got a shot off I feel pretty comfortable shooting and it went it,” said Simons, who scored 28 points with 10 assists. “Definitely got to the area I wanted, for sure. You’re pretty used to getting double-teamed (in those situations); you kind of expect it. But when you get a one-on-one opportunity, you have to seize it.”

The Blazers’ lack of experience ultimately did cost them, however — nobody thought to save the game ball for him.

“It’s gone,” he said. “Wait for the next game.”

GRADE: Even with the win, Portland remains mired near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, closer to last place (4.5 games) than the Play-In Tournament (5.5). But having lost six straight games and 17 overall coming in, Simons’ winner provided a welcome reprieve — against a quality opponent, no less. 3 Horrys.