Final: Nuggets fall to Trail Blazers 118-110

The Denver Nuggets let a 14-point lead get away and fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 118-110 on Monday night at Ball Arena, dropping Denver to 3-3 and pushing Portland to 5-1.

How it happened

Denver came out sharp and led 31-19 after the first quarter, and the Nuggets were on top for most of the night (73% of the game, per ESPN). Portland answered with a 39-point second quarter to cut it to 66-58 at the half, then kept chipping away. Denver still led 87-85 after three, and the game was tied 89-89 with just under 10 minutes left. From there the Blazers took over, outscoring Denver 33-23 in the fourth quarter.

Nuggets leaders

Jamal Murray carried the offense with 35 points on 10-of-19 shooting, a perfect 11-of-11 at the line, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Nikola Jokic added 26 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Christian Braun scored 14 and was a team-best +6, matched by Trevon Brazile (6 points, 5 rebounds, 3-of-3 shooting off the bench). DeMar DeRozan had 9 off the bench, but the rest of the starting group was quiet: Cameron Johnson scored 7 and Aaron Gordon 5, with Gordon finishing -14.

Where it slipped away

The glass told the story. Portland won the rebounding battle 53-37 and grabbed 21 offensive boards to Denver's 9, and the Blazers had a 54-44 edge in the paint. Donovan Clingan was the problem inside with 17 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks. Deni Avdija led Portland with 28 points, Damian Lillard added 20 points and 6 assists, and Jrue Holiday filled the box with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists off the bench.

Denver did plenty right: 13 steals, 18 points off Portland's 16 turnovers, and 29-of-34 free throws. Both teams shot 47% from the field, but Portland hit 15 threes to Denver's 9 and simply got more shots up (92 to 77) thanks to all those second chances.

Our take

A 3-3 start isn't a crisis, but losing a home game you led most of the night stings. Murray and Jokic combined for 61; Denver needs more than 12 points from Gordon and Johnson, and it can't give up 21 offensive rebounds to a big front line.

What's next

The Nuggets stay home to host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 PM MT.

Sources: ESPN box score