They’ll have to take what they can get at No. Given who they have under contract, the Nuggets need more help in the backcourt than they do up front. Kia MVP Nikola Jokic, the quickly improving Michael Porter Jr., and coach Michael Malone give the Nuggets a pretty high floor - they ranked in the top 10 on both ends of the floor over the five weeks after Murray’s injury and reached the conference semifinals for a third straight season - but they can’t reach their full potential until Murray is back to 100%.ġ5 - Nikola Jokic was the only player who ranked in the top 15 in points (12th), rebounds (ninth) and assists (sixth) per game. It can be a full 18 months before that player is fully recovered, so when Jamal Murray tore the ACL in his left knee on April 12, the Nuggets’ ability to contend for a title not just his season but next was compromised.

Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) Draft OutlookĪCL tears are devastating, because they don’t just end a player’s season. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. #1 of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets talk to Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the game against the Indiana Pacers on Maat the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. It is a popular event venue in Portland that opened in 1995.DENVER, CO – MARCH 15 : Michael Porter Jr. The Portland Trail Blazers play at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Ball Arena is the home to two recent championship-winning franchises, as it hosts the Colorado Avalanche as well. The Denver Nuggets play at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Where Do the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers Play? The Nuggets are continuing to challenge for a top seed in the Western Conference while Portland is looking to revamp its team, as it traded star Damian Lillard before this season for multiple players and draft picks. The Trail Blazers began to rebuild after that series, while the Nuggets went on to win the NBA title in 2023. Denver repaid the favor in 2021 with a six-game first-round series win. The rivalry picked up again in 2019, as Portland edged Denver in seven games in the conference semifinals.

The teams met again in the playoffs in 1986 and Denver got revenge, taking a first-round series in four games. Portland topped Denver in the Western Conference Semifinals en route to its only NBA championship. It finished second in the standings and Portland finished in third. Denver was in its first season in the NBA, having come over from the ABA. But the earliest postseason battle in Trail Blazers vs Nuggets history came back in 1977. Since 2004, Portland has won two Northwest Division titles and Denver has won six. The two teams have been in the same division since 2004 and have finished 1-2 in the division race twice. The all-time series stands at 113 wins for Portland and 105 wins for Denver. The Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets have played competitive games for many years. The other Trail Blazers Nuggets games will take place in Portland on February 23 and March 23. Denver will host back-to-back games on February 2 and 4 between the two teams. The Nuggets and Trail Blazers have yet to face each other in the 2023-2024 season. Game Results Between the Nuggets & Trail Blazers The Nuggets also have a rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs, thanks to heated contests across seven postseason series.

They have faced off five times in the postseason with Utah winning three of the series. These teams have been battling for Mountain Time Zone bragging rights for nearly 50 years. The Utah Jazz are the Denver Nuggets’ biggest rivals. Who are the Denver Nuggets’ Biggest Rivals? But that ended when the Seattle franchise moved to Oklahoma City. The Seattle SuperSonics were the true rival for the Portland Trail Blazers, as the I-5 rivalry was a contentious one. Los Angeles has won 10 of the 12 series, including each of the last six. It’s hard not to consider a team your biggest rival when you’re faced off in 12 playoff series against them. The Trail Blazers’ biggest rival is the Los Angeles Lakers. Who are the Portland Trail Blazers’ Biggest Rivals? The Nuggets’ first-ever postseason appearance came against the Blazers and the rivalry has been building ever since. The Trail Blazers-Nuggets rivalry is a deep one that has featured legendary players, championships, and some quality playoff matchups. The Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets have been battling for Western Conference supremacy since 1976. Are the Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets Rivals?

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