The Portland Trail Blazers walked into Ball Arena on Monday night looking to rebound from a tough loss in Minnesota. Instead, they were met with a relentless Denver Nuggets squad that completely dismantled them in a 146-117 rout. The loss not only marked a new season-high in points for Denver but also left Portland reeling from one of its worst defensive performances of the year.
The Blazers shot a respectable 45.5% from the field and an impressive 40.5% from beyond the arc—numbers that would typically indicate a competitive contest. However, allowing the Nuggets to shoot a staggering 65.9% from the floor, including over 70% for most of the game before garbage time, rendered any offensive effort meaningless.
Nikola Jokić was the unquestioned mastermind behind the destruction, delivering a dominant 40-point performance along with 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. His early offensive explosion set the tone, while his absurd shot-making left Portland’s defense utterly helpless. Dalano Banton led the Blazers with 22 points, while rookie center Donovan Clingan posted a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night for 21 points.
A Nightmare Start
The Blazers found themselves in trouble almost immediately, falling into an early 23-11 deficit as their offense sputtered. Overpassing and poor spacing led to unnecessary turnovers, fueling Denver’s transition attack. Even after adjusting, Portland struggled to generate movement, forcing isolation plays that led to low-percentage attempts. Meanwhile, the Nuggets made their first 11 shots, burying the Blazers before the game was even six minutes old.
Jokić in Video Game Mode
Jokić wasted no time asserting his dominance, dropping 12 points within the first seven minutes. At one point, Deandre Ayton draped himself over Jokić in the corner, leaving him seemingly nowhere to go. Yet, with a casual step-back, Jokić launched an impossibly arched shot over Ayton’s fingertips—and of course, it swished. Moments later, Ayton fouled Jokić on a three-point attempt, but the referees ruled it a non-shooting foul. It hardly mattered—the shot still went in. Plays like these made one thing clear: when Jokić is in this kind of form, there’s simply no stopping him.
Turnovers Fuel Denver’s Fast Break Frenzy
Portland’s sloppiness played right into Denver’s hands. The Blazers coughed up 16 turnovers, directly leading to 29 fast-break points for the Nuggets, including 14 in the first quarter alone. Denver already leads the NBA in transition scoring; handing them extra opportunities was a recipe for disaster. The Blazers’ inability to protect the ball turned the game into a track meet, one in which they had no hope of keeping up.
Pain in the Paint
If Portland’s turnover problem wasn’t enough, their defense in the paint was equally catastrophic. Denver racked up a jaw-dropping 88 points in the paint—nearly doubling the Blazers’ 46. It was a complete defensive collapse, with Jokić, Aaron Gordon, and Denver’s cutting attack slicing through Portland’s interior defense with ease.
Tempers Flare Late
Frustration boiled over in the fourth quarter as both teams exchanged words with the referees and eventually each other. Jamal Murray, clearly fed up, picked up two quick technicals and was ejected after a verbal spat with Toumani Camara. Camara also received a technical, his expression suggesting the tension won’t be forgotten anytime soon. With these two teams set to face off again in just 48 hours, the animosity could carry over into their rematch.
Looking Ahead
For Denver, this was a statement win, reinforcing their dominance in the Western Conference. For Portland, it was a harsh reminder of just how much work remains. If they hope to compete in Wednesday’s rematch, they’ll need to regroup quickly and find a way to slow down the seemingly unstoppable force that is Nikola Jokić.