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Blazers edge Nuggets in OT

Feb 26, 2011 - 8:10 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Brandon Roy hit a pair of three-pointers in the final minute of regulation and Portland held off Denver, 107-106, in overtime to deal the Nuggets their first loss since the trade of Carmelo Anthony.

Roy, a three-time All-Star, hadn't played since December 15 due to soreness in his knees, but he returned in a limited role in Wednesday's loss to the Lakers.

That game also went to overtime.

"When we got it into overtime, we were saying, 'Let's not let this one slip away,'" Roy, who scored 18 points, said of Portland's second OT game in three days. "We felt like the Laker game was a winnable game. We were up seven points late and thought we should have won it."

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and his two free throws with 23.1 seconds left in OT put the Trail Blazers on top as they posted their seventh win in eight games.

Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler combined for 50 points in their second game in a Denver uniform, but the Nuggets failed to pick up a third straight win since the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony to the New York Knicks.

"With what we were dealt, and how we reacted to it and what we got done with the limited amount of togetherness that we've had -- I can't complain," said Denver head coach George Karl.

Arron Afflalo had the tying three-point shot in OT and then his jumper with a minute left gave Denver a 106-104 edge.

Wesley Matthews went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with 51.8 seconds left, and Raymond Felton turned the ball over in the lane, leading to a pair of Aldridge free throws.

The Blazers used a foul to give with 9.8 seconds left, and after a timeout, Gallinari's three-point attempt went in and out of the cylinder. However, the ball was then deflected off the face of Portland's Andre Miller and out of bounds with 1.8 seconds left, giving Denver one final chance. Afflalo's desperation shot from the left corner was off the mark.

Gallinari made his Nuggets debut against Boston on Thursday and had just two points, but the 6-foot-10 forward made his presence felt one night later by totaling 30 points and nine boards. Chandler had 20 points, while Nene ended with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The new-look Blazers played without their newest acquisition - Gerald Wallace. He was introduced to the media and crowd, but was not in uniform for the game. He was acquired from Charlotte prior to the trading deadline.

It was a task for the Blazers just to get to OT. Just after Roy's three-ball, Felton's jumper gave Denver a seemingly comfortable 96-91 lead with 18.9 seconds left in regulation. Rudy Fernandez then hit a quick three and the Nuggets left the door ajar when Gallinari missed one of his two free throws with 13.8 seconds remaining. Roy took advantage, using a pump fake to get Felton in the air and connecting on a three from the left wing with 5.8 seconds to go.

Ty Lawson came up short on a layup for Denver at the end of regulation.

Portland held a 49-39 lead at the half, but the Nuggets went 12-of-17 from the field in the third, led by 23 points between Gallinari and Chandler, to grab a 72-65 lead going to the fourth.

Game Notes

The host has won the last seven meetings in this series...Miller narrowly missed a triple-double, ending with 18 points, nine boards and nine assists...Fernandez also scored 18, two more than teammate Matthews...Afflalo had 19 points.