Portland hosts Denver on home losing streak

Updated Dec. 18, 2024 2:03 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Denver Nuggets (14-10, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (8-18, 13th in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Nuggets -8; over/under is 232

BOTTOM LINE: Portland aims to stop its three-game home losing streak with a victory over Denver.

The Trail Blazers are 2-4 against opponents in the Northwest Division. Portland gives up 116.1 points to opponents and has been outscored by 9.2 points per game.

The Nuggets are 3-2 against opponents in the Northwest Division. Denver ranks ninth in the league with 45.0 rebounds per game led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.3.

The Trail Blazers are shooting 43.8% from the field this season, 3.0 percentage points lower than the 46.8% the Nuggets allow to opponents. The Nuggets are shooting 49.4% from the field, 1.9% higher than the 47.5% the Trail Blazers' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jerami Grant is averaging 16.1 points for the Trail Blazers.

Russell Westbrook is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Nuggets.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 2-8, averaging 108.9 points, 41.0 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points per game.

Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 122.6 points, 43.8 rebounds, 32.2 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 53.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.7 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Matisse Thybulle: out (ankle), Deandre Ayton: day to day (illness).

Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee), Christian Braun: day to day (back), Dario Saric: day to day (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.