Note: This blog is for my boy Ethan McDaniel, who actually isn't my boy at all because I don't know him, but he goes by the handle @emcdaniel09 on Twitter and has been talking trash to me about the NBA Playoffs.
It's halftime of Game 5 of the Jazz-Nuggets game, with the Jazz leading 52-50. We'll pick it up from there.
Flashback to about 8:20 p.m., when Ethan sends me the following tweet: @b_hoss_mac expect mr. bigshot to show up against the jazz... he's gonna make the jazz #kissdababy, mark my words!!
I'll guess we'll find out here in the second half if Mr. McDaniel is right and the Jazz are "kissin' da baby" as he says.
11:10 p.m. -- We're back from halftime and starting the third quarter. Denver must be able to overcome the loss of center Nene, out with a sprained knee, as well as foul trouble with power forward Kenyon Martin and point guard Chauncey Billups each with two fouls.
11:12 p.m. -- Jazz have the ball to start the quarter.
11:13 p.m. -- Mike Fratello: First three or four minutes are going to be critical in what could be final half of the year for Denver. Good observation.
11:13 p.m. -- K-Mart and Aron Afflalo hit first two shots to get into double figures. Carmelo said he needed help, and he's getting it tonight.
11:15 p.m. -- Utah with second straight turnover. Billups hits 3. Now has 11 points. Nuggets lead 59-54 after 7-0 run.
11:15 p.m. -- Carlos Boozer follows his own miss. Up to 17 points, along with Deron Williams. Both playing well, but need some help in second half.
11:17 p.m. -- Melo picks up his first foul ... and smiles. He does a lot of smiling on the court, but usually it means he's not happy. I know, ironic.
11:17 p.m. -- Billups hits second 3 in third quarter. Has 8 points so far, after scoring only 6 in the first half.
11:19 p.m. -- Loose ball situation. Wesley Matthews bounce pass to DWill, who bounce passes to Boozer for a monster stuff. Beautiful basketball!
11:20 p.m. -- Carmelo Anthony with the reverse layup. Nuggets lead 70-62. Denver outscoring Jazz 20-12 in third so far.
11:22 p.m. -- Billups with a layup. Now has 10 in the third quarter, 16 for the game. Nuggets lead 72-66 with 6:05 left in third.
11:23 p.m. -- According to tweet from Ross Siler of Salt Lake Tribute, Denver has started 9-for-10 in the second half. Melo and Billups have 17 of those points. Wow. *Shakes head*
11:25 p.m. -- Melo knocks down a jumper. Jazz defense stayed in the locker room, apparently.
11:26 p.m. -- Wesley Matthews with steal and layup. Jazz only down 4, 74-70.
11:28 p.m. -- Afflalo makes step-under jumper at shot clock buzzer. Nuggets now 11-12 from floor in second half. At some point, Jazz have to get some stops.
11:31 p.m. -- DWill drains 3-pointer. Now has 24 points and 8 assists. Millsap with follow-up on next possession. Nuggets lead down to one, 80-79.
11:33 p.m. -- Random thought: Do they sell Coca-Cola products at the Pepsi Center? Oh, and Taco Bell, you may call it a tortada, but it's a sandwich.
11:37 p.m. -- And just like that ... free throw, offensive rebound, 3-pointer ... Nuggets lead back to 7.
11:39 p.m. -- In a crazy sequence of trying to get 2-for-1 opportunities, Ty Lawson turns ball over and DWill misses 3-pointer. Then Nuggets with an offensive foul. Sloppy end to 3rd quarter.
11:41 p.m. -- C.J. Miles misses three at the buzzer. Denver leads 86-81 heading into fourth quarter.
11:43 p.m. -- After playing every minute of third quarter, Deron Williams will start fourth on the bench. Pivotal moment here to see how much time Jazz can steal with Ronnie Price on the floor and how close they can keep it before DWill returns.
11:47 p.m. -- Boozer with an offensive rebound and putback. Jazz trail 89-86. Booz 25 points and 14 boards. DWill 26 points and 9 assists.
11:50 p.m. -- DWill returns with 9:51 remaining and Jazz down by only 4. Good break.
11:51 p.m. -- J.R. Smith nails a wide-open 3-pointer. Denver up 94-88.
11:52 p.m. -- Millsap hits a turnaround hook shot to cut the lead down to two.
11:53 p.m. -- J.R. Smith with another 3-pointer, the Nuggets' eighth consecutive 3 made. Denver's lead is back to seven, 99-92.
11:57 p.m. -- Carmelo tackles C.J. Miles while going after a loose ball. For one of the world's best players, Melo makes some stupid decisions.
11:58 p.m. -- Johan Petro with a tip give Denver biggest lead of the game at 9, 101-92, with 5:58 remaining.
Midnight -- Good morning, everyone.
12:03 a.m. -- Booz grabs his 15th rebound of the game. Also has 25 points. Not a bad game.
12:06 a.m. -- Billups knocks down 2 free throws to put Nuggets up 11, biggest lead of the night, at 105-94.
12:07 a.m. -- You can refer to the Nuggets as Team Tat. Between Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen and J.R. Smith, there's no team in the league with more tattoos.
12:09 a.m. -- Billups steal leads to J.R. Smith runout dunk. Denver up 111-97 with 3:10 left to play.
12:11 a.m. -- Too much balance tonight for Denver with six players in double figures. DWill's 32 points and 10 assists, and Boozer's 25 points and 15 rebounds can't overcome all of the Nuggets' balance.
12:14 a.m. -- Despite the double-digit deficit, DWill is not going to go away quietly.
12:17 a.m. -- Probably just a lot of frustration, but Boozer and Millsap doing a lot of complaining about physical play and being hacked under the basket without getting any calls.
12:19 a.m. -- With tempers and tension soaring, the benches empty with Denver up 114-110. DWill fouls out after a brilliant game of 34 points and 10 assists. First player in NBA history with 20+ points and 10+ assists in first five games of the series.
12:21 a.m. -- Ballgame. Final: Denver 116, Utah 102. Jazz lead the series 3-2 and head home to Salt Lake City with chance to clinch at home on Friday night.
