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Denver hosts Portland after Jokic’s 40-point game

By  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
 
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Portland Trail Blazers (23-31, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (35-19, third in the Western Conference)

Denver; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Denver hosts the Portland Trail Blazers after Nikola Jokic scored 40 points in the Denver Nuggets’ 146-117 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Nuggets are 5-4 against division opponents. Denver leads the Western Conference with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Jokic averaging 9.5.

The Trail Blazers are 14-26 in conference matchups. Portland allows 114.5 points to opponents and has been outscored by 5.5 points per game.

The Nuggets average 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer makes per game than the Trail Blazers give up (12.9). The Nuggets average 109.0 points per game, 6.8 fewer points than the 115.8 the Nuggets give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is shooting 57.8% and averaging 29.8 points for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Deni Avdija is averaging 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Trail Blazers. Anfernee Simons is averaging 19.3 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 43.0% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 123.0 points, 44.6 rebounds, 33.0 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 53.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.6 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 7-3, averaging 113.7 points, 44.8 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Russell Westbrook: out (hamstring), Michael Porter Jr.: out (hamstring), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee), Peyton Watson: out (knee).

Trail Blazers: Robert Williams III: out (knee), Matisse Thybulle: out (ankle), Jerami Grant: out (knee), Kris Murray: out (quad).

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