Blazers Overhaul 14-Point Deficit to Beat Nuggets 118-110

The Denver Nuggets lost their fourth game in five at home on Monday night.

The Portland Trail Blazers erased a 14-point deficit to defeat the Nuggets 118-110 at Ball Arena. The loss drops Denver to 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in its home games. Portland improves to 5-1 after taking the lead with 9:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets led for the first three periods but could not hold the advantage.

Portland dominated the boards and the perimeter. The Blazers won the rebounding battle by 16, led by Donovan Clingan’s 18 boards. Half of those rebounds were offensive. The visitors also outshot Denver from deep, hitting 41 three-pointers to Denver’s 26. That disparity proved decisive in the closing minutes.

Jamal Murray scored 35 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out six assists for Denver. Nikola Jokic finished with 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting. Deni Avdija led Portland with 28 points. Jrue Holiday hit a three-pointer after a missed shot by Murray, putting Portland ahead for good. Toumani Camara added another three with 1:10 left to stretch the lead to nine.

The Nuggets started with a 3-2 zone defense that gave way to man-to-man coverage. The initial strategy helped Denver build an early lead. Jokic secured 11 more rebounds than the Blazers in the first quarter. However, the Blazers started cold from beyond the arc, going 3-for-17 in the first half. They eventually adjusted and hit five consecutive three-pointers before halftime.

Head coach David Adelman brought back rookie Alpha Diallo after a four-game absence with a wrist injury. The move allowed him to field a full bench unit. That group faced a tough test when Portland coach Micah Nori played Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard together. Lillard drew a foul from Diallo and later stole a pass from Aaron Gordon. Those plays cut Denver’s lead to five points in 30 seconds. Adelman returned Murray and Christian Braun to stabilize the offense.

Ja Morant sat out with a left hamstring strain. Scoot Henderson started in his place. Nori, who previously served as an assistant under Michael Malone, coached his first full game at Ball Arena. He had previously stood in for the Timberwolves during a 2024 playoff series when their head coach was sidelined.