Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers (Win Percentage, Projected Lineups, Ranks, Injuries)
Denver Nuggets (14-10) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (13-11):
Season series: Trail Blazers led the season series, 1-0
Winning percentage: Nuggets (56.6%), Trail Blazers (43.4)
Projected starting lineups:
Nuggets:
PG: Jamal Murray (#27)
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (#5)
SF: Bruce Brown (#11)
PF: Aaron Gordon (#50)
C: Nikola Jokic (#15)
Trail Blazers:
PG: Damian Lillard (#0)
SG: Anfernee Simons (#1)
SF: Josh Hart (#11)
PF: Jerami Grant (#9)
C: Jusuf Nurkic (#27)
League ranks:
Nuggets:
-8-7 on the road
-5th in offensive ratings (115.8)
-26th in defensive ratings (114.5)
-11th in points per game (114.8)
-21st in rebounds per game (42.8)
-2nd in assists per game (28.0)
-16th in steals per game (7.1)
-22nd in blocks per game (4.3)
Trail Blazers:
-5-5 at home
-12th in offensive ratings (112.4)
-23rd in defensive ratings (113.1)
-23rd in points per game (110.3)
-16th in rebounds per game (43.2)
-19th in assists per game (23.8)
-24th in steals per game (6.7)
-25th in blocks per game (4.2)
Injury report:
Nuggets:
–Michael Porter (OUT; heel)
–Collin Gillespie (OUT; lower leg)
Trail Blazers:
-John Butler (OUT; illness)
-Nassir Little (OUT; hip)
-Drew Eubanks (PROBABLE; hip)
-Josh Hart (PROBABLE; ankle)
-Damian Lillard (PROBABLE; calf)
-Keon Johnson (OUT; hip)
-Olivier Sarr (OUT; wrist)
-Gary Payton (OUT; abdomen)
Cory Nelson is a contributor to Sports Illustrated’s channel “Inside The Heat”. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson and Instagram @ckenzynelson