Game Thread GAME# 34: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 30, 2015 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), CSNNW & NBATV

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 Regular Season Record
DENVER NUGGETS
12 - 20
(7-10 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
13 - 20
(7-6 Home)




______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

JAMEER NELSON VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SG

GARY HARRIS VS ALLEN CRABBE

SF

KOSTAS PAPANIKOLAU VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

PF

KENNETH FARIED VS NOAH VONLEH

C

JOFFREY LAUVERGNE VS MASON PLUMLEE


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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), WEDNESDAY, 12/30/2015​

WHERE: MODA CENTER, PORTLAND, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------
DENVER NUGGETS

FOYE , BARTON , MILLER

ARTHUR , JOKIC , HICKSON , NURKIC

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

FRAZIER , HENDERSON , MONTERO , HARKLESS

CONNAUGHTON , LEONARD , ALEXANDER , DAVIS


INJURIES
NUGGETS
JUSUF NURKIC (Left Patellar Tendon Repair): DOUBTFUL
DANILO GALLINARI (Left Ankle Sprain): OUT
EMMANUEL MUDIAY (Right Ankle, Deltoid Sprain): OUT
WILSON CHANDLER (Right Hip Arthroscopic Surgery): OUT

TRAIL BLAZERS
ED DAVIS (Left ankle bone bruise): PROBABLE
DAMIAN LILLARD (Left foot, plantar fasciitis): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MICHAEL MALONE --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL NUGGETS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday marks the second of four matchups between the Trail Blazers and Nuggets in 2015-16.

• Denver defeated Portland, 108-104, in the first contest on Nov. 9. In that game, Emmanuel Mudiay led the Nuggets with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting.

• Denver’s four-point victory on Nov. 9 snapped Portland’s eight-game winning streak over the Nuggets (2013-14 to 2014-15).

• Portland is 12-2 at home against Denver since the start of the 2008-09 season.

• Portland swept the season series from Denver in each of the past two seasons, marking the first time that the Trail Blazers swept the Nuggets in back-to-back seasons since 1995-96 to 1996-97.

• Damian Lillard scored 30 points in his first game against Denver this season (9-9 FT), marking his highest total against the Nuggets in six games (2/25/14).

• Mason Plumlee scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting against Denver on 11/9, and has now averaged 14.5 points on 66.7% shooting over his past four games against the Nuggets.

• Portland is third in the NBA with 11.8 offensive rebounds per game, while the Nuggets are fourth with 11.6.

• Denver, which is ranked 23rd in the NBA for points allowed (103.9 ppg), has lost each of its past four games when surrendering 100+ points. Portland is 12-9 when scoring 100+ points this season, but has only reached the century mark in two of its past seven games.

• This will be Portland’s first home game against a Northwest Division opponent this season (3-2 on road). The Nuggets are 3-5 against divisional foes thus far (1-3 on road).

• Denver guard/forward Will Barton was drafted 40th overall by Portland in 2012 and spent his first two-plus seasons (144 games) with the Trail Blazers. In 31 games this season (1 start), Barton is second on the Nuggets in scoring with 15.8 points per game and tied for second with 6.0 rebounds per contest.



• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 90-75
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 63-20
AT THE NUGGETS: Nuggets lead, 55-27

​

 

[HolyBackboard]

If the Blazers are serious about the playoffs (whether any of us like it or not), this is a game they have to have.

 

[Darkwebs]

Conversely, if the Blazers are serious about tanking, this is a game they have to lose.

 

[jlprk]

Good schtuff. Darkie, your posts should hang here.

http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/Collection/highlights.html

 

[riverman]

Crabbe is a way better two way player than thrill, but thrill will get the highlight reels..I'm voting Crabbe

 

[kjironman1]

Here come all the woulda shoulda coulda been Barton lovers..... Give me a break before they even start. Barton isn't a starter on a bad team.
Yes the Faried crew will be along also i'm sure....
Go Blazers!

 

[jlprk]

Barton is nowhere near as good as Hickson!!!

(mouth watering to see Hickson) pant, pant...

and Mike Miller! Denver was after him a year before they got him.

http://nugglove.com/2014/07/09/mike-miller-almost-denver-nugget/

 

[BBert]

Crabbe is a way better two way player than thrill, but thrill will get the highlight reels..I'm voting Crabbe

Crabbe > The Thrill. The People's Champ is good at freelancing, and generally a lot of fun to watch. Crabbe is a solid contributor within a team concept. And a better fit.

 

[Strenuus]

I am looking at tickets for this game... against the nuggets... on a wednesday... and our team is below .500... and they are STILL ridiculous.

 

[HailBlazers]

I am looking at tickets for this game... against the nuggets... on a wednesday... and our team is below .500... and they are STILL ridiculous.

That's winter break for ya.

 

[Strenuus]

That's winter break for ya.

I've been tempted to go all day... I may just do the 300 level and then upgrade... but god damn, man. lol.

 

[Eastoff]

I've been tempted to go all day... I may just do the 300 level and then upgrade... but god damn, man. lol.

Wait until the last hour.

 

[kjironman1]

Can you upgrade at the ticket window?

 

[HailBlazers]

Great interview with the People's Champ just now. He always impresses with what he has to say. On one hand I miss him, on the other I'm happy he left for a better opportunity.

 

[riverman]

Will is like Wes or Patty Mills...he'll always be rooted for in Portland

 

[PHXBlazer1]

We never win the opening tip!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Aminu for 3!

 

[PHXBlazer1]

CJ is money

 

[SlyPokerDog]

3J!

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Where is everyone???

 

[Darkwebs]

It's weird to think Vonleh's best attribute right now is his defense. He's no shotblocker, but he does a great job of moving his feet and works really hard.

 

[dead247]

Where is everyone???

Im here. Sorry, I had to sign some autographs.

 

[dead247]

Damn, isn't Mike Miller like 51?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Im here. Sorry, I had to sign some autographs.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Everyone loves Barton

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Randy Foye sighting

 

[Sinobas]

CJ looking much better as a PG now. I think Lillard being out has been good for his development.

 

[HailBlazers]

WTF Meyers, sometimes I think all he cares about is offense.

 

[dead247]

WTF Meyers, sometimes I think all he cares about is offense.

This times infinity. He can get up so i don't see why he doesn't block more shots (among other things).

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That was great ball movement!

Davis and 1.