Denver Nuggets (9-8, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9-8, seventh in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Portland will attempt to keep its three-game win streak intact when the Trail Blazers take on Denver.
The Trail Blazers are 5-5 in Western Conference games. Portland ranks ninth in the Western Conference in team defense, allowing just 109.2 points while holding opponents to 46.7% shooting.
The Nuggets are 2-1 against the rest of their division. Denver ranks eighth in the NBA scoring 14.2 fast break points per game. Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets averaging 2.7.
The teams play for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Nov. 15 the Nuggets won 124-95 led by 28 points from Jokic, while CJ McCollum scored 21 points for the Trail Blazers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Damian Lillard is averaging 21.6 points and 8.1 assists for the Trail Blazers. McCollum is averaging 18.0 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 40.9% over the past 10 games for Portland.
Jokic is averaging 26.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists for the Nuggets. Will Barton is averaging 19.1 points over the last 10 games for Denver.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 108.4 points, 43.1 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points per game.
Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 103.9 points, 44.7 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 6.4 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.1 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: None listed.
Nuggets: Nikola Jokic: day to day (wrist), Zeke Nnaji: out (ankle), Michael Porter Jr.: out (back), Jamal Murray: out (knee).
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