The Nuggets were offered a free pass into third place a week before the playoffs. The Trail Blazers almost ripped it away from them on Monday night at Ball Arena.
Vexed by an inexplicable disparity from the 3-point line for most of the night, Denver charged back from a 16-point deficit with 8:30 to play. It was the team’s second consecutive double-digit comeback in a fourth quarter, following Saturday’s statement win over the Spurs. It ended as another overtime triumph, 137-132 over the Blazers to move tentatively into the No. 3 seed.
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The Nuggets (51-28) have won nine consecutive games. They’ll have an opportunity for the first 10-game win streak of Nikola Jokic’s career on Wednesday when they host the Grizzlies.
Aaron Gordon knocked down a game-tying triple from the left corner with 1:13 remaining. He buried another jumper from the opposite baseline to give Denver the lead with 26.8 seconds left — reduced by a costly toe on the 3-point line. It was still the exclamation point on a 26-8 Nuggets run, but it allowed Portland’s Deni Avdija to drive for two on the ensuing possession. With a chance to win in regulation, Nikola Jokic missed a jump hook and a tip-in at the buzzer. He couldn’t believe himself.
Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball as Matisse Thybulle (4) of the Portland Trail Blazers defends during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, April 6, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Gordon had him covered. He started Denver’s ninth overtime game of the season with another bucket from the right corner, this time with both feet rooted safely behind the perimeter. The Nuggets never relinquished that lead.
Before the comeback, the Nuggets seemed destined to fall victim to Portland’s staggering display from 3-point territory. Denver, which shot a league-best 39.6% outside the arc, went 12 for 28 (31.6%) even after the late surge. The Blazers, ranked 29th in the league, shot a blistering 25 for 52 (48.1%).
Jokic overcame six turnovers to finish with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. Gordon added 23 points. Six Nuggets scored in double figures. They outscored their visitors 66-32 in the paint. It almost wasn’t enough.
The Nuggets entered the game with the Lakers for third place in the Western Conference standings. Both teams had identical records and four games remaining. Los Angeles was idle Monday after a loss to the Mavericks, which ended a disastrous weekend defined by injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The door was cracked open for the Nuggets to escape Oklahoma City’s side of the playoff bracket.
Julian Strawther (3) of the Denver Nuggets draws a foul from Scoot Henderson (00) of the Portland Trail Blazers as Nikola Jokic (15) screens during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, April 6, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
But because they lost the season series to Los Angeles, a tie isn’t enough to secure the No. 3 seed. They need to finish cleanly ahead of the Lakers. Their win over Portland keeps them in position to do that. If they had lost, they would have needed to win out and get help from multiple LA losses.
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