Portland seeks fourth consecutive home win against Denver

The Portland Trail Blazers will host the Denver Nuggets on Friday night in hopes of extending their three-game home win streak. The game is set to start at 10 p.m. EDT in Portland, Oregon. Currently, the Nuggets hold a record of 44 wins and 26 losses, ranking fourth in the Western Conference. In contrast, the Trail Blazers have a record of 31 wins and 39 losses, placing them 12th in the same conference. Portland has struggled against others in the Northwest Division, winning only 5 out of 14 games. Portland's fast break game is notable, averaging 15.6 points per game, with Shaedon Sharpe leading the team at 3.9 points. The Nuggets, however, excel in rebounding, ranking fifth in the NBA with 45.7 boards per game, largely thanks to Nikola Jokic, who averages 12.8 rebounds. Scoring figures suggest a competitive matchup. The Trail Blazers average 110.6 points per game, while the Nuggets allow 116.8 points per game. Meanwhile, Denver scores 120.9 points per game, outpacing Portland’s defensive average of 114.0. Top performers for Portland include Anfernee Simons, averaging 19.6 points per game, and Deni Avdija, who has 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. For the Nuggets, Jokic stands out with 29.1 points and 12.8 rebounds. In their last 10 games, the Trail Blazers have a record of 4-6, averaging 113.2 points. The Nuggets are at 5-5, scoring an average of 118.2 points. In terms of injuries, the Trail Blazers may be without Deandre Ayton, while Jabari Walker and Robert Williams III are day-to-day. The Nuggets are facing uncertainty with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic both listed as day-to-day.