With everyone but Shaedon Sharpe (and [three-point champion Damian Lillard](https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026/02/dame-time-returns-damian-lillard-earns-improbable-3-point-contest-win-at-all-star-weekend.html)) healthy and available, Friday night’s matchup with Denver had all the makings of a statement game for the [Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/) coming out of the All-Star break.
Then, the Nuggets caught fire, handing Portland its worst loss of the season by far: 157-103.
“One of our worst games of the season,” Blazers acting head coach Tiago Splitter said. “The Nuggets had a sense of urgency to win this game. They lost last night, I think 3 of their last 5 games. And coming off the break, we were just not ready.”
Led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver (36-21) hit 13 of its 22 attempts (59%) from three in the first half and buried the Blazers (27-30), who simply couldn’t keep up offensively throughout a dismal night at Moda Center.
Playing on the second of a back-to-back after losing to the Clippers on Thursday night, the Nuggets scored 82 in the first half against Portland — the second-most in a half in franchise history.
157 points is the most scored in a road game in Nuggets history and the most by any NBA team this season. It was the most the team has ever scored in regulation: a 184-point outburst in a loss against the Pistons in 1983 included three overtimes.
In Friday’s dominant effort, Jokic had 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Murray poured in 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Both stars left the game at the end of the third quarter with Denver up 40.
“A guy like Jokic, one of the best players in the world ... your focus has got to be at 100%,” Splitter said. “Can’t make any mistakes. You put your hand there, he’s gonna get a foul. You’re not ready for rotation, we double, we blitz him, ready for rotation. ... So, all those little things have got to be on point to stop one of the best players in the world. That’s who he is.”
Deni Avdija posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 assists, adding eight rebounds. Jrue Holiday led the way for Portland with 19 points.
Early, hot shooting from Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson sparked the Blazers on offense, but a first quarter onslaught from a relentless Jokic (19 in the quarter) put them behind 41-27 through one.
“I don’t remember another first quarter like that from him,” Splitter said. “That was spectacular. He really played great. He’s one of the greatest players to touch a basketball floor.”
Murray took over in the second, nailing three straight three-pointers and scoring 15 in the quarter to give the Nuggets a 82-53 advantage at the break.
Portland’s shooting percentage continued to diminish in the third quarter as Denver got to the line with regularity, hitting five more three-pointers in the quarter to slam the door shut and take a 40-point lead into the fourth.
On the plus side for the Blazers, rookie center Yang Hansen saw valuable, extended minutes in the fourth against NBA veteran Jonas Valanciunas. Pregame, Hansen met his idol in Jokic, whom he previously joked he would “kiss” if they met at All-Star weekend.
Portland looks ahead to a road game at the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. PT.
“I think we’ve got to bounce back on this,” Splitter said. “Go to Phoenix, bounce back same way (Denver) did. Lost last night, came here with that sense of urgency to win and do the right things. Effort, defense, talk, communicate, no putting your head down when you make a mistake, not running back, forget your matchup. So, all those little things are important in basketball games, and they were not there tonight.”