Trail Blazers Defeat Nuggets 118-110 to Continue Road Success

The Portland Trail Blazers secured a 118-110 victory against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night at Ball Arena, extending their road winning streak early in the 2026-27 NBA season. Despite playing without injured guard Ja Morant, the Trail Blazers put together a strong team performance to overcome a halftime deficit and improve their record.

Denver controlled much of the first half, taking a 31-19 lead after the opening quarter and carrying a 66-58 advantage into the locker room. Nuggets star Jamal Murray fueled the early surge, scoring 20 points in the first half alone and capping a late second-quarter possession with a driving slam dunk past Damian Lillard with 38 seconds remaining.

However, Portland responded in the second half through stellar play from Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. Avdija led all Portland scorers with 28 points, while Clingan contributed heavily inside with 17 points and 18 rebounds. The Trail Blazers chipped away at Denver's lead, turning the tide with efficient offensive execution and solid defensive stops down the stretch.

Damian Lillard added 20 points for Portland, while Jrue Holiday recorded a double-double with 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. The team's guard depth proved vital as they managed the absence of Morant, who remains sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury, alongside other sidelined rotation players.

Jamal Murray led the charge for the Nuggets with a massive scoring effort, but Denver's rotation struggled to contain Portland's momentum in the final two periods. The loss drops the Nuggets to a 3-2 record on the young season, while the Trail Blazers continue their impressive early campaign.

Entering Monday's matchup, Portland had established itself as one of the top offensive units in the Western Conference, while Denver looked to build on back-to-back wins following a slow start. The Trail Blazers' resilience on the road ultimately proved decisive in handing the Nuggets a tough home defeat.