Austin Rivers steals show in 4th quarter, carries Denver Nuggets to Game 3 win

A bit of greater than a month in the past, Austin Rivers was at house, out of the NBA and ready on his telephone to ring for an additional likelihood.

On Thursday evening, Rivers was on the forefront of a pivotal NBA playoff recreation, scoring 16 of his 21 factors in a supercharged fourth quarter to assist energy the Denver Nuggets to a 120-115 win over the Portland Path Blazers in Sport 3.

The win gave the Nuggets a 2-1 collection lead.

“I sat there for like a month and a half, ready on the telephone to ring. I simply put my religion in God, having conversations with myself, speaking to God like, ‘What’s the plan? What’s going to occur?’” Rivers mentioned. “All of the suggestions I saved getting is, a number of groups preferred me however they didn’t know what kind of character I used to be and the way I’d be of their locker room. My basketball potential was by no means questioned; it was who I used to be as an individual. Which is definitely even worse.

“In truth, it broke my coronary heart. As a result of I do know who I’m, and I’ve all the time had good relationships with folks, however you possibly can have one occasion with errors and be labeled one thing.”

Rivers hung out ready for that decision after he was traded on the deadline from the New York Knicks to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in a three-team deal after which waived. He signed a 10-day take care of Denver on April 20, every week after star level guard Jamal Murray tore an ACL and was set to overlook the rest of the season. Rivers signed for the remainder of the season on April 30.

“Couldn’t be happier for the child,” coach Michael Malone mentioned. “I simply informed our crew, take into consideration this — man was sitting at house for 2½ months ready for his telephone to ring. And it wasn’t ringing. That to me is loopy to even take into consideration. Austin Rivers is an efficient participant. He’s performed in 45 playoff video games previous to this season, and it simply labored out for him and us that he’s right here.”

The son of Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers, Austin has had a high-profile basketball profession, beginning with being a extremely sought-after recruit, finally signing with Duke. He was drafted tenth total in 2012 by the New Orleans Pelicans however finally joined the LA Clippers to play for his father in 2015. In 2018, he was traded to the Wizards, then dealt to the Suns and waived, earlier than signing with the Houston Rockets. He signed with the Knicks earlier than this season, showing in 21 video games earlier than he was traded.

“This recreation can carry you to the bottom feeling on the planet. I swear, some nights you possibly can really feel so low,” Rivers mentioned. “After which this recreation could make you’re feeling so good about your self, too. It’s a lovely recreation.”

Rivers didn’t need to elaborate on what saved him out of the league, however he did trace at a particular incident earlier in his profession that has adopted him round. The time away from the sport gave him loads of alternative to mirror on himself, and the way he may put it behind him.

“It was a humbling expertise,” he mentioned. “But it surely’s made me a greater participant. It’s made me a greater individual.”

In Sport 3, with 5 minutes, 55 seconds to go, the rating was 91-91, organising a primary alternative for a heavy dose of Dame Time from Lillard, nevertheless it was Rivers who flipped the script, hitting 4 3s within the closing six minutes.

“Humorous factor is, he scored 16 factors in that fourth quarter, capturing into a very large basket. Previous to that, I felt he was turning down open photographs,” Malone mentioned. “He wasn’t capturing the ball. I mentioned to him three or 4 instances, ‘Austin, let it go, let it fly, shoot the ball once you’re open.’ And finally in that fourth quarter, he did.”

The patchwork nature of the Nuggets’ backcourt has been a shining instance of the tradition of resiliency and toughness Malone has put in in his group. It’s not solely Rivers, however important minutes from 30-year-old rookie Facundo Campazzo, two-way participant Shaquille Harrison and undrafted rookie two-way participant Markus Howard.

“We’re a resilient group, we’re a tricky group and we’re just like the Statue of Liberty, man — we take all people,” Malone mentioned. “You come right here, for those who can carry one thing to the desk to assist us win a recreation, we’re gonna throw you on the market.”

Because the harm to Murray, the Nuggets have looked for complementary scoring to possible MVP Nikola Jokic, leaning on a set of gamers on any given evening. However with the Blazers scheming the Nuggets with a plan to not double-team Jokic, it has put the deal with Denver’s position gamers to step up.

Jokic has delivered scoring in largely single protection all through the collection, dropping one other 36 factors on 12-of-24 capturing, however the further scoring from sudden locations has been the distinction the previous two video games.

The Nuggets reclaimed home-court benefit with their win in Portland, establishing momentum within the collection because the early changes have countered the Blazers’ defensive recreation plan. Partially, it has been a easy reply: Like Rivers did on Thursday, belief gamers to make performs and make photographs.

“Preventing is one thing we develop as a Nuggets group,” Jokic mentioned. “We’re gonna get in your nerves.”