basketball | nba

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Pick & Prediction FEB 23TH 2021

FinishedTV: TNT | Altitude SportsPepsi Center Denver

579Portland Trail Blazers
580Denver Nuggets

231

-6.5

230.5o -105

-6 -104

195

-225

Partials

1 2 3 4

25 32 21 28

34 23 21 33

Score

106

111

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Portland vs. Denver Recap FEB 23TH 2021

Damian Lillard recorded 45 points and 12 assists and matched his career high of 11 3-point baskets to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 125-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night near Orlando.

Gary Trent Jr. added 27 points and matched his career best of seven 3-pointers as Portland (32-38) moved within a half-game of the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference playoff derby.

Jusuf Nurkic scored 22 points, and CJ McCollum added 13 for the Trail Blazers, who were 23 of 39 from 3-point range and shot 46.7 percent overall. The victory was only Portland's second in the last 11 meetings with Denver.

Michael Porter Jr. registered 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Jerami Grant scored 18 points for the Nuggets (45-24). Torrey Craig, PJ Dozier and Mason Plumlee scored 13 points apiece, and Monte Morris had 11.

Denver star Nikola Jokic had 13 assists but scored only eight points. The Nuggets shot 52.4 percent from the field and were 14 of 28 from 3-point range.

Denver played without starting guards Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Gary Harris (hip) and starting small forward Will Barton (knee) for the fourth straight game. Mike Malone sat most of his starters other than Porter down the stretch.

Harris' defense was missed, as Lillard (11 of 18) and Trent (7 of 10) were a combined 18 of 28 from behind the arc.

The Nuggets crept within 80-75 on Craig's 3-pointer with 4:19 left in the third quarter. Lillard responded with a four-point play and a 3-pointer to move the advantage right back to 12.

Denver answered with a 12-2 surge to move within two points, but Trent knocked down a 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left as Portland took a 92-87 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets moved ahead 93-92 on Porter's three-point play 63 seconds into the final stanza. Trent's 3-pointer 17 seconds later put the Trail Blazers back ahead.

Later, Porter connected on a 3-pointer, and Dozier added a hoop to give Denver a 106-105 edge with 5:38 left.

But Lillard canned his 11th 3-pointer with 4:47 left to give Portland a 110-106 advantage.

After Dozier scored to bring the Nuggets within two, the Trail Blazers ripped off eight straight. Trent's sixth 3-pointer culminated the push and gave Portland a 118-108 lead with three minutes left.

Trent's seventh 3-pointer made it 121-112 with 1:26 remaining as the Trail Blazers closed it out.

Lillard (20 points) and Trent (15) had hot shooting touches in the first half as Portland took a 62-49 lead into the break.

--Field Level Media

Nikola Jokic scored 41 points, Jamal Murray had 19 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-106 on Tuesday night.

Michael Porter Jr. had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Zeke Nnaji scored 10 for Denver.

Damian Lillard had 25 points and 13 assists, Enes Kanter finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and Gary Trent Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 18 each for the Trail Blazers.

Portland led most of the third quarter but Jokic did his best to keep the Nuggets close. Down six he hit a jumper and a 3-pointer, and after Jones completed a three-point play Monte Morris tied it with another 3-pointer.

Lillard's 27-footer put the Blazers ahead 78-73 but Jokic hit short jumper in the lane and Nnaji drained a corner 3-pointer to tie it heading into the fourth.

Murray, who seemed bothered by a sore shoulder in the second half, missed seven of his eight shots through the first 36 minutes but started to find his stroke in the fourth. His 3-pointer from the wing tied it at 83 and he hit another from just inside the line to give Denver an 87-85 lead, its first since late in the first half.

Lillard and Murray began trading points. Murray hit two more 3-pointers and Lillard had a dunk, a 3-pointer and two free throws as the Nuggets grabbed a 95-92 lead with 4:42 left. After Anthony missed at the other end Jokic found a cutting Murray for a layup and a five-point lead.

Lillard missed a 29-footer and then Jokic found Murray again for a twisting jumper in the lane and a 99-92 lead, and the Nuggets closed it out.

Anthony led Portland in the second quarter. He hit two free throws, two mid-range jumpers and after a 3-pointer by Jones drained two more jumpers. He capped his 16-point quarter with a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the half, and the teams went into the intermission tied at 57.

--Field Level Media

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W 60% L 40%

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03/01/2021 Charlotte W 111 - 123
02/26/2021 @L.A. Lakers L 93 - 102
02/23/2021 @Denver L 106 - 111
02/22/2021 @Phoenix L 100 - 132
02/20/2021 Washington L 118 - 111
02/17/2021 @New Orleans W 126 - 124
02/16/2021 @Oklahoma City W 115 - 104
02/14/2021 @Dallas W 121 - 118
02/12/2021 Cleveland W 110 - 129
02/11/2021 Philadelphia W 114 - 118

W 56% L 44%

5 4

03/01/2021 @Chicago W 118 - 112
02/27/2021 @Oklahoma City W 126 - 96
02/25/2021 Washington L 112 - 110
02/23/2021 Portland W 106 - 111
02/21/2021 @Atlanta L 115 - 123
02/19/2021 @Cleveland W 120 - 103
02/19/2021 @Charlotte D 0 - 0
02/17/2021 @Washington L 128 - 130
02/16/2021 @Boston L 99 - 112
02/14/2021 L.A. Lakers W 105 - 122

Next Games

03-03-2021 Golden State(05-20-19) L 119 - 117
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03-02-2021 @Milwaukee(11-19-18) L 98 - 104
03-04-2021 @Indiana(03-24-19) L 88 - 124

Last Meetings

02/23/2021 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 106-111
12/18/2020 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 96-129
12/16/2020 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 95-126
08/06/2020 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 125-115
05/12/2019 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 100-96

05/09/2019 Nuggets @ Trail Blazers 108-119
05/07/2019 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 98-124
05/05/2019 Nuggets @ Trail Blazers 116-112
05/03/2019 Nuggets @ Trail Blazers 137-140
05/01/2019 Trail Blazers @ Nuggets 97-90

Eastern Conference

NBA Atlantic	W	L	PRC	HOME	AWAY	PF	PA	ST	L10
Philadelphia 76ers	23	12	.657	15-3	8-9	114.2	110.8	L1	5-0-5
Brooklyn Nets	23	13	.639	13-6	10-7	120.8	116.2	L1	9-0-1
New York Knicks	18	17	.514	10-7	8-10	105.0	104.0	L1	7-0-3
Boston Celtics	17	17	.500	10-5	7-12	110.9	110.4	L3	4-0-6
Toronto Raptors	17	17	.500	8-7	9-10	112.9	110.4	L2	6-0-4

NBA Central	W	L	PRC	HOME	AWAY	PF	PA	ST	L10
Milwaukee Bucks	21	13	.618	14-4	7-9	119.6	112.1	L5	5-0-5
Indiana Pacers	15	18	.455	7-10	8-8	113.0	112.6	L4	3-0-7
Chicago Bulls	15	18	.455	7-11	8-7	114.6	114.9	L2	6-0-4
Cleveland Cavaliers	13	21	.382	9-9	4-12	104.5	112.6	L10	3-0-7
Detroit Pistons	9	25	.265	6-10	3-15	107.5	112.0	L3	3-0-7

Western Conference

NBA Northwest	W	L	PRC	HOME	AWAY	PF	PA	ST	L10
Utah Jazz	27	8	.771	15-2	12-6	116.4	107.1	L1	7-0-3
Denver Nuggets	19	15	.559	9-7	10-8	115.6	111.2	L1	6-0-4
Portland Trail Blazers	18	14	.563	8-6	10-8	114.2	115.2	L4	6-0-4
Oklahoma City Thunder	14	20	.412	6-11	8-9	106.7	112.4	L1	4-0-6
Minnesota Timberwolves	7	28	.200	4-12	3-16	108.1	116.5	L8	1-0-9

NBA Pacific	W	L	PRC	HOME	AWAY	PF	PA	ST	L10
Los Angeles Lakers	24	11	.686	11-7	13-4	111.3	105.6	L4	5-0-5
Los Angeles Clippers	24	12	.667	12-6	12-6	114.9	109.0	L1	6-0-4
Phoenix Suns	22	11	.667	11-6	11-5	113.4	107.5	L1	8-0-2
Golden State Warriors	19	16	.543	12-6	7-10	114.0	112.8	L1	6-0-4
Sacramento Kings	13	21	.382	7-12	6-9	114.4	120.3	L1	1-0-9

Eastern Conference

NBA Southeast	W	L	PRC	HOME	AWAY	PF	PA	ST	L10
Miami Heat	17	17	.500	10-7	7-10	107.7	109.3	L3	7-0-3
Charlotte Hornets	16	17	.485	9-8	7-9	112.1	113.2	L1	6-0-4
Atlanta Hawks	14	20	.412	8-9	6-11	113.1	113.1	L2	3-0-7
Washington Wizards	13	19	.406	6-9	7-10	114.8	119.0	L1	7-0-3
Orlando Magic	13	22	.371	8-11	5-11	105.4	112.1	L4	4-0-6

Western Conference

NBA Southwest	W	L	PRC	HOME	AWAY	PF	PA	ST	L10
San Antonio Spurs	17	13	.567	8-9	9-4	111.0	111.7	L1	6-0-4
Dallas Mavericks	17	16	.515	8-8	9-8	112.5	113.4	L1	8-0-2
Memphis Grizzlies	15	15	.500	7-10	8-5	111.2	110.7	L1	5-0-5
New Orleans Pelicans	15	19	.441	10-7	5-12	115.9	115.9	L2	4-0-6
Houston Rockets	11	21	.344	5-8	6-13	107.9	112.6	L11	1-0-10

Last Injuries

Denver Nuggets

March 2th 2021
Paul Millsap

Knee

Mid March | out

Millsap is out of action with a left knee sprain, and he is not expected to return until the middle of March.
March 2th 2021
Gary Harris

Thigh

Mid March | out

Harris is sidelined with a strained left abductor, and he is unlikely to return until the middle of March.
March 2th 2021
Facundo Campazzo

Illness

Ques Tues | questionable

Campazzo missed the last game while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it is unclear if he will dress for Tuesday's battle with the Bucks.
March 2th 2021
Markus Howard

Illness

Ques Tues | questionable

Howard was held out of the last contest as he is enrolled in the league's health and safety protocols, and it remains to be seen if he will take the court against the Bucks on Tuesday.
March 2th 2021
JaMychal Green

Shoulder

Mid March | out

Green is out of the lineup with a shoulder injury, and he will not be available until the middle of March.
March 2th 2021
Michael Porter Jr.

Back

Prob Tues | probable

Porter Jr. is expected to take on the Trail Blazers on Tuesday despite lower-back tightness.
March 2th 2021
JaMychal Green

Shoulder

Prob Fri | probable

Green is battling a right shoulder strain, but he is expected to take the court against the Cavaliers on Friday.
March 2th 2021
Will Barton

Personal

Ques Fri | questionable

Barton has missed the previous three games while tending to a personal matter, and it has yet to be determined if he will be available for Friday's tilt versus the Cavaliers.