DENVER – A look at three key numbers related to Friday’s game at the Pepsi Center between New Orleans and Denver (8 p.m. Central, Fox Sports New Orleans, WRNO 99.5 FM):
1.5: Games out of eighth place in the Western Conference for Denver (37-41), which trails No. 8 Portland (39-40). The Trail Blazers, who came from behind Thursday to beat Minnesota on TNT, also own the tiebreaking advantage against the Nuggets, making Friday’s contest a near must-win for Denver. Any combination of Portland wins and Denver losses that adds up to two or more over the final days of the regular season would wrap up a playoff berth for the Trail Blazers and eliminate the Nuggets.