Blazers enter break on 3-game skid after falling to Nuggets 132-121

DENVER — Jamal Murray scored a career-high 55 points, Nikola Jokic had his 25th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 132-121 on Wednesday night for their eighth straight victory.

Murray was 20 of 36 from the floor, including seven 3-pointers. It’s the third-most points in franchise history, trailing only David Thompson’s 73-point game on April 9, 1978, and Jokic’s 56-point effort Dec. 7.

Jokic had with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on a night when the team celebrated Serbian Heritage Night and handed out his bobblehead.

Denver led by 23 points, only to see Portland cut it to single digits late in the second game between the teams in Denver in three nights. The Nuggets won 146-117 on Monday.

Anfernee Simons led Portland with 26 points, and Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 20 rebounds. The Trail Blazers, losers of three straight following a six-game win streak, were without Deandre Ayton (strained calf), Scoot Henderson (sprained ankle) and Jerami Grant (sore knee).

Takeaways

Trail Blazers: Ayton’s left calf strain will be re-evaluated in a month.

Nuggets: The Nuggets were missing Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring), Aaron Gordon (calf), Peyton Watson (knee) and Russell Westbrook (hamstring).

Key moment

Murray missed a free throw with less than a second remaining until halftime, but Jokic was able to crash the boards and tap it in for a 75-56 lead.

Key stat

Denver had seven blocked shots, including four by Zeke Nnaji.

Up next

After the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers host the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 20.

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NUGGETS 132, BLAZERS 121

3-Point Goals—Portland 14-38 (Walker 3-3, Banton 3-8, Simons 3-9, K.Murray 2-4, Avdija 1-4, Camara 1-4, Sharpe 1-6), Denver 15-38 (J.Murray 7-15, Strawther 3-7, Braun 2-4, Nnaji 2-4, Pickett 1-4, Tyson 0-1, Jokic 0-3). Rebounds—Portland 45 (Clingan 20), Denver 49 (Jokic 15). Assists—Portland 27 (Sharpe 7), Denver 26 (Jokic 10). Total Fouls—Portland 19, Denver 20. A—19,901 (19,520)