Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers Box Score on Dec 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 23, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and Wilson Chandler added a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets drilled the Portland Trail Blazers 102-85 Friday night at Moda Center.

Gary Harris scored 17 points for the Nuggets (17-15), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Jokic, who made 12 of 21 field goal attempts, added eight rebounds and six assists.

CJ McCollum scored 15 points and Shabazz Napier had 14 for the Trail Blazers (16-16), who were without leading scorer Damian Lillard. Portland has lost three straight overall and six in a row at home.

Denver increased a 52-41 halftime lead to 68-49 early in the third quarter. The Nuggets carried an 80-66 edge into the final period and increased the margin to 91-70 midway through the quarter.

The Blazers got no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Denver made seven of its first 11 shots in mounting a 15-9 lead. The difference was 28-17 before Portland closed out the first quarter with five straight points to make it 28-22.

The Blazers made it an 11-0 run to tie the score at 28-28 early in the second quarter. Denver used a 10-0 spurt to go ahead 51-38 late in the period.

NOTES: Portland's leading scorer, G Damian Lillard (strained right hamstring), missed his first game of the season. Lillard will accompany the Trail Blazers to Los Angeles for their Thursday game against the Lakers, but "he's most likely not playing," coach Terry Stotts said. ... Denver reserve G Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) sat out his third straight game, but coach Mike Malone said Mudiay could be available for Thursday's game at Golden State. ... Denver scored 32 of its first 34 points in the paint on 16 baskets -- all but a pair of free throws. The Nuggets finished with a 64-46 points-in-the-paint advantage. They also blocked 10 shots and held a 48-33 rebounding edge.