The Portland Trail Blazers will need some good fortune to break their way to earn a Western Conference play-in berth.
On Friday, they received some when Denver superstar center Nikola Jokic was ruled out for Wednesday night’s game at the Moda Center.
However, seemingly insurmountable bad news broke the Blazers' way when center Donovan Clingan and guard Anfernee Simons were ruled out with an undisclosed illness.
But the Blazers overcame their absence to put forth one of their most spirited performances of the season, winning 128-109 at the Moda Center.
The victory allowed the Blazers to remain two games behind the Dallas Mavericks (34-37) and Phoenix Suns, tied for 10th. Dallas won 123-117 over the Detroit Pistons (39-32) at home and Phoenix (33-37) won 123-112 over the Cleveland Cavaliers (56-13) at home.
Deni Avdija led the Blazers with a season-high 36 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He went 12 of 16 from the field.
That performance came after he scored 31 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and had eight assists during Wedneday’s win over Memphis.
“Deni is playing at a very, very high level,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups
Shaedon Sharpe went 1 of 10 from three-point range but still scored 23 points with six rebounds. Dalano Banton came off the bench to add 19 points.
Denver remains a dangerous team without Jokic. Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are NBA champions. Russell Westbrook is a former MVP.
The Blazers lack one player as accomplished as they are. Yet, that didn’t matter.
Billups started forward Toumani Camara at center with Kris Murray and Avdija at forward. Scoot Henderson replaced Simons in the starting lineup alongside Sharpe.
Denver Nuggets v Portland Trail Blazers
Shaedon Sharpe #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives against Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of a game at the Moda Center on March 21, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)Getty Images
The lineup proved quick, fast and exciting in the open court. Rim protection could have been an issue without a true center in the middle. But the Blazers outscored the Nuggets 64-42 on points in the paint.
Henderson and Camara each scored nine points in the first quarter, which ended 30-30. Denver built a nine-point lead in the second quarter but led just 59-54 at halftime.
The game was close entering the fourth quarter before the Blazers went on a run. Sharpe made his 10th three-point attempt after missing nine to put the Blazers up 93-86 early in the fourth quarter.
The run continued with a three from Camara and then a fastbreak dunk by Sharpe that put the Blazers up 114-98 with 6:01 on the clock.
Denver Nuggets v Portland Trail Blazers
Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the second quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets at the Moda Center on March 21, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)Getty Images
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (32-39) ended the season 2-2 with the Nuggets (44-27), who fell into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers (43-26) for third in the West.
HONORING THE 1990S
The Blazers honored the 1990 and 1992 Blazers teams that reached the NBA Finals with video tributes during the game.
On hand were former coach Rick Adelman, guards Terry Porter, Robert Pack and Byron Irvon, plus forward Buck Williams. Former vice president of basketball operations Bucky Buckwalter and assistant coach John Wetzel were also there.
Family members of several former players who have died were there to represent Kevin Duckworth, Wayne Cooper, Jerome Kersey, Cliff Robinson and Dražen Petrović.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the Boston Celtics (51-19) at 3 p.m. Sunday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)