02-10-2020, 09:46 AM
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Trail Blazers hope for a couple of trends to continue when they play host to the Denver Nuggets Sunday night at the Moda Center.The Trail Blazers (6-4) have beaten Denver (3-6) six straight times at home and are 14-2 against the Nuggets at the Moda Center since the start of the 2008-09 season. Portland has won 12 of its past 13 matchups overall with Denver dating to the start of the 2013-14 season.The Blazers beat Denver 115-113 in overtime at the Pepsi Center on Oct. 29, scoring nine unanswered points in the final 1:26 of regulation to force the extra session. Damian Lillard scored a game-high 37 points on 15-for-28 shooting, including the game-winning field goal with .3 of a second remaining. Lillard has averaged 29.3 points on .485 shooting over the past three games against the Nuggets, having scored at least 30 in two of those games.Lillard is tied for fourth in the NBA in scoring at 30.6 points per game and has totaled the most points (306) in the first 10 games of a season in Portland history. The previous best was Kiki Vandeweghes 282 in 1986. Lillard becomes the first player in Blazer annals to score at least 30 points in six of the first 10 games of a season.Lillard scored 36 points to lead Portland past Sacramento 122-120 in overtime Friday at the Moda Center.A pretty gritty win, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. Its a positive that this group is able to find ways to win a close game.Portland is 4-1 in games decided by six points or fewer and 2-1 in overtime contests this season.The Blazers are going without power forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who has missed the past three games with a straining left calf. (Aminu) will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks, Stotts said.In the meantime, the fifth-year Portland coach will choose from among Meyers Leonard, Noah Vonleh, Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe for the fifth starting spot, depending on matchups.Well do whatever I think is best that night, Stotts said.Denver guard Will Barton, a former Trail Blazer, has missed the past six games and will sit out Sundays contest with a sprained left ankle. Forward Darrell Arthur (knee) is questionable for Sundays game.The Nuggets continue to have trouble taking care of the ball. They rank last in the league, averaging 18 turnovers per game after totaling 15 in a 106-95 home loss to Detroit Saturday night.We cannot continue to turn the ball over 18, 19 times a game if we want to give ourselves a chance to win, Denver coach Mike Malone told reporters.The Nuggets hope to get one of those turnovers reversed -- and get a chance to turn a loss into a defeat in the process. In Tuesdays 108-107 loss at Memphis, referees ruled the ball was touched by the Nuggets before it went out of bounds with .7 of a second left, a call that was upheld by replay. Denver was leading by one point; the Grizzlies went on to win on Marc Gasols buzzer-beating basket.The next day, NBA officials ruled the ball should have been awarded to Denver. The Nuggets have filed an official protest with the league and hope to replay the end of the game the next time they play Memphis Feb. 1 in Denver. Air Force 1 Alte Liberty . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Air Force 1 Uomo Saldi . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scon...-flax.html . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Air Force 1 Sp Italia . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Air Force 1 Low Outlet Italia . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. LOS ANGELES -- Point guard DAngelo Russell is sitting out for the Los Angeles Lakers against San Antonio with a sore left knee.Lakers coach Luke Walton made the announcement before the game Friday night.Russell leads the Lakers balanced lineup with 16.8 points and 4.7 assists per game. The second-year pro started the first 12 games of the season for Los Angeles during its surprising 7-5 start.Russell felt sorenesss in his knee during the Lakers practice on Thursday, and they elected to hold him out to be cautious.dddddddddddd Walton is optimistic the injury wont be a long-term problem.The Lakers begin a stretch of 18 games in 30 days Friday. They dont have consecutive days off for another month. ' ' '