----- Reggie Jackson scored a team-high 23 points and Aaron Gordon added 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-111 Saturday night at Moda Center in Portland.
Tonight’s starting lineup marks just the second time in NBA history that a team has started five rookies since starters were first tracked on league box scores in 1970-1971 (4/26/12 - Golden State) and they young Trail Blazers nearly knocked off the defending champs.
Reggie Jackson scored a team-high 23 points and Aaron Gordon added 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets recorded a 114-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday night at Moda Center.
Duop Reath scored a game-high 24 points, Jabari Walker finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Scoot Henderson added 22 points and six assists.
Portland trailed by 10 at halftime but used a 12-6 run to close the third quarter and cut the deficit to two at 85-83. The Blazers connected on 63% of their shots in the quarter including 6-of-8 from downtown.
The Trail Blazers closed the game on a 13-5 run to make it a one possession game, but Kris Murray's three-quarter court heave at the buzzer was off-the-mark giving Denver the win.
Denver played without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray while Portland was missing Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, and Anfernee Simons.
Up next- The Trail Blazers begin a seven-game road trip Monday in Houston against the Rockets. The game is scheduled to tip off at 5:00 PM.
Chad's Take- No shame in this loss. Portland started five rookies and they battled for 48 minutes against the defending champs.