November 3, 2026 at 7:18 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Blazers Erase a 12-Point First-Quarter Hole in Denver, Outscore Nuggets 60-44 After the Break

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Portland trailed 31-19 after one quarter, then took over the second half behind 28 from Deni Avdija and an 18-rebound night from Donovan Clingan. Jamal Murray's 35 wasn't enough for Denver.

The Portland Trail Blazers were down 31-19 after one quarter in Denver on Monday night, and they won 118-110 by outscoring the Nuggets 60-44 after halftime. Denver led 87-85 going into the fourth. Portland then scored 33 in the final period to the Nuggets' 23 and left with its fifth win in six games.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting, and Damian Lillard added 20. Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 18 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists, going 7 for 11 from the floor. Both finished with double-doubles. Denver's Jamal Murray led all scorers with 35 on 10-of-19 shooting, including 4 of 9 from three, over a game-high 39 minutes. Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

The Nuggets did most of their damage early. They scored 31 in the first quarter and 35 in the second, and led 66-58 at the half. Portland's 39-point second quarter cut the margin from 12 to 8, and its 27 in the third left it two points behind. Denver's 21 in the third and 23 in the fourth were its two lowest quarters, and Portland closed on the 33-23 fourth.

Denver had Cameron Johnson back after three games out with a right ankle sprain, but he scored 7 points in 34 minutes on 2-of-5 shooting. Aaron Gordon had 5 points, and Christian Braun led the other starters with 14. The loss ends a two-game winning streak that had just lifted the Nuggets above .500. Portland's only other defeat this season came against unbeaten Memphis.

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