Portland Path Blazers ahead Deni Avdija (8) tries to get round Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball recreation Friday, March 21, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Picture/Jenny Kane)
Deni Avdija scored a season-high 36 factors on 12-of-16 taking pictures to steer the Portland Path Blazers to a convincing 128-109 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Friday night time.
Shaedon Sharpe added 23 factors as Portland (32-39) received its fourth straight recreation. Avdija made 4 3-pointers and in addition had eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals throughout his fourth 30-point effort of the month.
Dalano Banton added 19 factors and 5 assists off the bench on an evening by which Portland performed with out Anfernee Simons (sickness), Jerami Grant (knee), Deandre Ayton (calf) and Donovan Clingan (sickness).
READ: NBA: Warriors trip depth, 3-point taking pictures to beat Blazers
Unbelievable night time from Deni Avdija in Portland’s 4th straight win!
💪 36 PTS
💪 8 REB
💪 7 AST
💪 3 STL
💪 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/zSJap2YEDm— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2025
Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara added 16 factors apiece for the Path Blazers, who outscored Denver 40-27 within the fourth quarter. Duop Reath added 12 factors and 7 rebounds for Portland.
Aaron Gordon scored 23 factors for the Nuggets, who have been with out three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (ankle) for the third straight recreation. Denver is in fourth place within the Western Convention, three proportion factors behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
Russell Westbrook had 18 factors, Michael Porter Jr. tallied 17 and Christian Braun had 15 factors for Denver, which has dropped its final two video games. Peyton Watson had 12 factors off the bench and Jamal Murray scored 10 for the Nuggets, who misplaced to the Path Blazers for simply the second time prior to now 11 conferences.
Portland remained two video games behind the Phoenix Suns (34-37) and Dallas Mavericks (34-37) within the battle for the ultimate play-in spot within the NBA Western Convention. Phoenix and Dallas additionally received their respective video games on Friday night time.
The Path Blazers shot 54 p.c from the sphere and made 14 of 35 3-point makes an attempt.
Denver made 50 p.c of its photographs and was 9 of 26 from behind the arc.
READ: NBA: Lakers knock off Nuggets for ninth straight house win
The Path Blazers led 88-82 getting into the fourth interval.
Banton quickly transformed two three-point performs throughout an 11-4 push as Portland took a 104-93 lead with 8:35 remaining.
The margin was 9 with seven minutes left earlier than the Path Blazers delivered the knockout punch by scoring 13 consecutive factors.
Camara began the run with a trey and had 5 factors in the course of the surge. Avdija made 4 free throws, together with two to finish the run, and provides Portland a 120-98 lead with 4:19 remaining.
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Avdija’s dunk made it 125-102 with 3:02 left because the Path Blazers completed off the pivotal victory.
Westbrook scored 15 first-half factors as Denver led 59-54 on the break. Avdija had 13 within the half for the Path Blazers.
