Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
Portland Trail BlazersOpen full analysis
The Portland Trail Blazers edged the Denver Nuggets 109–107 on October 31 at the Moda Center in a defensive struggle that came down to execution in the final moments. Dario Avdija led Portland with 23 points while Shea Sharpe added 19, anchoring a Blazers offense that shot 41.8 percent from the field and made 11 three-pointers. Denver's Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić combined for 43 points, with Murray posting 22 and Jokić 21, though the Nuggets' 16 turnovers proved costly in a two-point loss. Denver shot a superior 48.1 percent overall and grabbed 46 rebounds to Portland's 43, but the Blazers' 11 steals and discipline in the fourth quarter—outscoring Denver 38–26 in that frame—sealed the upset. Both teams posted nearly identical offensive and defensive ratings around 108, underscoring how tightly contested the matchup remained throughout. The result marks a significant early-season win for Portland's playoff aspirations against a defending contender.
