Denver Nuggets (44-26, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (31-39, 12th in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Portland will try to keep its three-game home win streak intact when the Trail Blazers take on Denver.
The Trail Blazers are 5-9 against opponents in the Northwest Division. Portland is ninth in the Western Conference with 15.6 fast break points per game led by Shaedon Sharpe averaging 3.9.
The Nuggets are 27-16 in Western Conference play. Denver is fifth in the NBA with 45.7 rebounds per game led by Nikola Jokic averaging 12.8.
The Trail Blazers average 110.6 points per game, 6.2 fewer points than the 116.8 the Nuggets give up. The Nuggets average 6.9 more points per game (120.9) than the Trail Blazers allow (114.0).
TOP PERFORMERS: Anfernee Simons is scoring 19.6 points per game with 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Trail Blazers. Deni Avdija is averaging 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 49.5% over the past 10 games.
Jokic is scoring 29.1 points per game and averaging 12.8 rebounds for the Nuggets. Russell Westbrook is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 113.2 points, 50.1 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.1 points per game.
Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 118.2 points, 43.4 rebounds, 30.1 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.7 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Deandre Ayton: out (calf), Jabari Walker: day to day (concussion), Robert Williams III: day to day (knee), Jerami Grant: day to day (knee).
Nuggets: Jamal Murray: day to day (ankle), Nikola Jokic: day to day (elbow), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Julian Strawther: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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