Trail Blazers 105 - 103 Nuggets
Final
  for this game

Lopez helps Blazers rally for win over Nuggets

Dec 3, 2014 - 7:55 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Robin Lopez's layup with 1.3 seconds left lifted the Portland Trail Blazers to a 105-103 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

LaMarcus Aldridge gave the visitors the lead late in the fourth before Arron Afflalo tied the game with 1:31 to play.

Following a couple of empty possessions from each team, Damian Lillard's point-blank layup rimmed out, but the rebound went out of bounds off Denver.

Out of a timeout, Aldridge took the inbounds pass at the foul line and fed Lopez, who shielded J.J. Hickson and easily converted the basket.

"That's pretty much how it was drawn up," said Lopez. "(Aldridge) made a great pass. I am just happy I put it in."

Danilo Gallinari's 3-pointer as time expired was all air as the Blazers held on.

Aldridge posted a season-high 39 points to go along with 11 rebounds to lead Portland, while Lillard registered 17 points with six assists and Wesley Matthews added 15 points in the win.

The Blazers are 3-0 against Denver this season and have now won seven straight in the series.

Ty Lawson deposited 24 points and 13 assists for the Nuggets, who had their two-game winning streak halted.

"This is a game that you gotta win," said Nuggets coach Brian Shaw. "They are the division leader and you got them on your home court."

Lawson's 3-pointer with 9:49 to play in the fourth staked the hosts to a 90-80 lead. However, the Blazers answered with six straight points to close the gap. Lawson and Steve Blake traded 3s before Portland made its final push.

Trailing by six following a Timofey Mozgov basket, Aldridge converted a layup and Matthews dropped in a trey before Lillard's layup gave the Blazers a 98-97 advantage with 3:25 on the clock.

Lawson answered for Denver, but Aldridge had his way at the other end with a three-point play for a 101-99 edge. Hickson tied the game at 101-101 with 2:38 left.

Denver led 31-21 after the first quarter and took a 56-50 lead at the half.

Wilson Chandler's three-point play made it an 81-76 Denver lead late in the third, then his putback layup gave it an 85-78 margin heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Afflalo was fined $15,000 prior to the game for his Flagrant 2 foul that occurred during the fourth quarter of Monday's 103-101 win over the Utah Jazz ... Denver begins a three-game road trip on Friday in Washington ... Portland is 5-0 against Northwest division opponents and are now 12-1 when scoring over 100 points ... Afflalo and Chandler had 18 points apiece, with Chandler adding 10 rebounds.






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