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Nuggets visit Portland in Northwest battle

Nov 18, 2010 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - Northwest Division rivals clash in the Rose City Thursday when the Portland Trail Blazers entertain the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets come into tonight's game off a thrilling 120-118 home win over New York on Tuesday. All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, who reportedly would like to play in the Big Apple and has been the subject of numerous trade rumors, scored 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds in that one as Denver held off the Knicks.

Al Harrington added 22 points off the bench for the Nuggets, who had lost three of four coming in. Gary Forbes ended with 19 points and nine boards, while Nene chipped in 17 points and five rebounds for the victors.

"I want to make my family happy," Anthony said about the trade talk. "I want them to be comfortable. If your household ain't right, then ain't nothing right."

Denver has dropped three in a row on the road and is 2-4 away from the Rocky Mountains this season.

The Blazers, who are opening a three-game homestand tonight, salvaged the finale of a three-game road trip on Tuesday in Memphis when Wesley Matthews finished with a career-high 30 points, as Portland outlasted the Grizzlies, 100-99.

"I thought tonight he let the offense come to him," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said of Matthews. "I just thought he brought energy to the floor."

LaMarcus Aldridge contributed 23 points and Andre Miller recorded 19 points, nine assists and five steals for the Trail Blazers, who snapped a brief two- game slide. Marcus Camby had a game-high 17 rebounds to go with six points in the victory.

Portland All-Star guard Brandon Roy missed the game with a sore left knee and is expected to miss tonight's contest.

"You got to give them credit. They've got a star player out, and they played good," Memphis' Zach Randolph, a former Trail Blazer, said.

In other news from the Pacific Northwest, Blazers center Greg Oden will undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee this Friday and miss the rest of the season. The No. 1 overall pick in 2007 has yet to play this season and missed all of his rookie campaign with a right knee problem. Oden appeared in only 21 games a year ago after suiting up for 61 in 2008-09.

Portland is 3-1 at home and has won two straight as the host.

Denver won three of four over Portland last season but the Blazers have taken three of the last four in the series at the Rose Garden.