Three weeks ago, the host country seemed for two matches as safe winnings for Denver Nuggets. But Trail Blazer’s latest wave has made this week more difficult for the 2023 NBA champions.
Portland has won 10 of its 12 last matches since January 18 and has moved closer to the 10th place at the Western Conference, which enters Monday night’s game. It’s the first of two straight matches in Denver, with the team playing Wednesday evening as well.
Blazers was 13-28 after losing five games in a row but has turned things quickly. They won four straight, lost to Oklahoma City and then rolled off six straight wins, which included two against Phoenix as well as victories over Milwaukee and Sacramento.
The lines ended in Minnesota on Saturday night, and now they will meet a team that they beat on a Summer-Beating layout of Afernee Simons on December 19.
Simon’s 18.5 points per match leads a balanced points attack for Portland, which has seven players on average double figures. Shaedon Sharpe (17.3), Jerami Grant (14.7), Deandre Ayton and Deni Avdija (both 14.5), Scoot Henderson (12.5) and Toumani Camara (10.1) also have points in double numbers.
Robert Williams III, who is an average of 5.7 points and 5.9 returns, did not play during the second half of Saturday night’s game with a knee injury. His status for Monday has not been announced.
“I think he just came down some fun,” coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “I’m not sure what the diagnosis is and what not. But we felt like playing him anymore would not be healthy.”
Denver plays better since that loss to Blazers, who goes 20-8 to move to place # 3 on the Western Conference. Nuggets has won a seasonal hell six in a row even though they did not have Russell Westbrook (Hamstring) and Peyton Watson (right knee disorder) for the last four matches. Jamal Murray (left knee inflammation), Aaron Gordon (right calf management) and Michael Porter Jr. Have also missed a game during the streak.
Westbrook and Watson will not play Monday and Porter, who set out Saturday night’s victory on Phoenix with hamstring density, is a decision on the game.
“We started the season 11-10, and since then we are (23-9),” said coach Michael Malone. “We have played much better basketball and much more consistent basketball. We are obviously far from being where we want to be, but throughout the season guys have shown what they can.”
Nikola Jokic has played all six matches in line and has been dominant. He has recorded three triple dubbles and three double doubles, and Denver is 14-3 in the last 17 matches he has played.
Jokic is third in the NBA in points (29.6 points), second in assists (10.3) and bound for third in returns (12.7), which leads the nugs in each of these categories. He is also on average 1.8 steal, which is bound for the fourth in the league.
Murray (20.4 points), Porter (19.0) and Christian Braun (14.7) are next in points for Denver.
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