Northwest Division rivals meet for the third time this season Sunday evening, as the Denver Nuggets host the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena.
Both squads have won six of their last 10 games. The Trail Blazers (35–36, 8th West) are riding a three-game winning streak, punctuated by a 108–104 victory in Minnesota on Friday. Meanwhile, the Nuggets (43–28, 5th West) are coming off Friday’s 121–115 home win against the Raptors and could finally be near full strength, with the expected return of standout guard Peyton Watson.
The teams split their first two matchups in Portland: the Blazers eked out a 109–107 win on Halloween before the Nuggets retaliated in February with a 157–103 annihilation — their most points scored on the road in franchise history.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Portland Trail Blazers
- OUT: Shaedon Sharpe (Fibula), Damian Lillard (Achilles)
- QUESTIONABLE: Jerami Grant (Foot), Vit Krejci (Calf)
Denver Nuggets
- QUESTIONABLE: Peyton Watson (Hamstring)
Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. ET. Denver enters as an 8.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Portland sits as a +275 underdog. The game’s total is set at 241.5 points.
Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Preview
Portland Trail Blazers Preview
The Trail Blazers are surging at just the right time, winning six of their last 10 games — including three straight — to strengthen their foothold in the Western Conference playoff race. Friday’s massive win over the Timberwolves vaulted Portland past the Clippers into the eighth seed with 11 games to go.
While the nightly heroics of All-Star forward Deni Avdija — who averages 24.2 points, seven rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game — have certainly bolstered their postseason push, Portland’s true X factor is on the other end of the floor.
The Blazers own a top-five defense over their last 10 contests, anchored by breakout big man Donovan Clingan. With the second-year seven-footer down low, the franchise also ranks fifth in rebounding and first in blocks during that stretch.
A playoff berth is in sight for the Blazers for the first time since 2021. However, they could hit a minor speed bump Sunday night, as veteran forward Jerami Grant — contributing just under 20 points a night — is listed as questionable with foot soreness.
Denver Nuggets Preview
The Nuggets have been hampered by injuries all season, whether it was Nikola Jokic’s hyperextended knee in December, Jamal Murray’s ankle sprain earlier this month, or Aaron Gordon’s nagging hamstring issues. But on Sunday, for the first time in a long time, Denver could head into battle at full strength.
Burgeoning guard Peyton Watson was upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s game against Portland after missing the last six-plus weeks with a right hamstring strain. The former first-rounder out of UCLA is enjoying a breakout season in Year 4, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and two assists per contest, while also fortifying Denver’s defensive efforts.
Watson could return to a lineup that boasts the NBA’s fourth-best offense over its last 10 games, ranking second in scoring and three-point percentage (39.7%). First-time All-Star Jamal Murray is averaging a career-high 25.2 points and 7.1 assists per game, while perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic is averaging a 28-point triple-double.
Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Pick, Best Bet
Portland has the league’s second-easiest remaining strength of schedule, according to Tankathon. However, planted under their “toughest opponents” column on the site are two remaining matchups with the Nuggets.
The Nuggets piled up 157 points — the most in an NBA game all season — against the Trail Blazers during a 54-point rout in Portland. Now they return home with substantial reinforcements. Expect Denver to get it done by at least 8.5 points Sunday night.
