If the Portland Trail Blazers were hoping to exit the 2020 Preseason schedule on a positive note against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, they did not get their wish. The game was less masterful orchestration than sad trombone symphony. Damian Lillard sat out the game, eliminating one of Portland’s main scorers. But lack of defense—not offense—was the crippling downfall. The Blazers got down early, dug the hole even deeper, then slunk their way to the finish of a dispiriting 129-96 loss.
If the Blazers are on the path to defensive improvement this year, they certainly didn’t show it during preseason play.