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Nuggets carry win streak into Portland

Feb 27, 2013 - 3:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets take a two-game winning streak with them when they travel to Portland on Wednesday night to take on a Trail Blazers team that snapped a long losing streak earlier this week.

The Nuggets have won two in a row, a road victory in Charlotte over the Bobcats, and a home win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Denver scored a season-high 33 fast-break points in the 119-108 victory over the Lakers.

"They try to play fast, but they can't play as fast as us. They can't run with us," Denver forward Corey Brewer said. "We just tried to the push the pace and make them run. They try to run, but that's our game."

The Nuggets have scored over 100 points in 18 of their last 20 games.

Without leading scorer Danilo Gallinari due to a thigh bruise, Wilson Chandler started in his place and scored a team-high 23 points. Ty Lawson added 20 and Kenneth Faried, Andre Iguodala and Brewer also scored in double figures. Faried and Iguodala recorded double-doubles.

Gallinari is listed as day-to-day.

The Blazers had lost seven straight prior to Sunday's home victory over the Boston Celtics, 92-86.

"Needless to say, it was good to get a win after our losing streak," said head coach Terry Stotts. "More importantly, how we got the win against a good team - a physical game and I thought we got a lot of good performances."

Wes Matthews led the way for the Blazers with 24 points. Nicolas Batum was next with 18 points, followed by LaMarcus Aldridge (16), Damian Lillard (12 and J.J. Hickson (11). Hickson added 11 rebounds and became the fourth player in the NBA to record 30 double-doubles this season.

Sunday marked the first action of Eric Maynor since the team acquired him at the trade deadline from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Maynor only had two points in just under 15 minutes of action, but his coach was relatively pleased.

"His shots didn't go but I thought he played with a lot of confidence," Stotts said of Maynor. "He was solid defensively. For the first time out there finding his way, it was good having him out there. I liked having him and Damian - they played two guards together so we were able to play them together. I'm looking forward to his progress."

Maynor fell out of Scott Brooks' rotation in OKC, but he'll be needed in Portland. Presumptive Rookie of the Year Lillard is tied for fourth in minutes played with an average of 38.5 minutes per night.

The two Northwest Division rivals have split their two meetings thus far this season with each team winning on their home turf. Denver has lost six straight in Portland.