The Portland Trail Blazers get another crack at the Denver Nuggets after getting absolutely shellacked in their last meet up on the road, 124-95. Since then, Portland has looked significantly more comfortable at home, seeing their net rating swing from the negative to the “there’s no way they can sustain this” positive.
If Nikola Jokic plays, the Nuggets clearly present a real test. However, when missing Michael Porter Jr, Jamal Murray and Bones Hyland, the Nuggets are still fighting with the proverbial hand behind their back. Portland has struggled mightily to contain shorthanded teams all season, so a “real test” and the chance to exercise the “beating a short handed team cleanly” demons are on the table.