Yang Hansen benched for the first time! Grant’s free throws clinch victory as the Trail Blazers narrowly defeat the Nuggets in the NBA Cup game

On November 1st, Beijing time, in an NBA regular season matchup, the Trail Blazers won a close 109-107 game against the Nuggets at home. The Trail Blazers achieved a three-game winning streak and halted the Nuggets’ three-game streak. Yang Hansen was sidelined and did not play for the first time since joining the team.

For the Trail Blazers, Avdija scored 23 points with 4 assists, Sharpe added 19 points, Grant contributed 16 points and 5 rebounds, Kamara had 14 points and 2 blocks, Holiday posted 11 points and 13 assists, Murray recorded 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, and Klingen grabbed 5 points and 15 rebounds. For the Nuggets, Murray led with 22 points and 6 rebounds, Jokic posted 21 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 blocks, Gordon scored 14 points with 5 rebounds, Hardaway had 11 points, Watson scored 10 points, and Valanciunas added 10 points.

In the first quarter, Murray delivered a dunk, Brown scored under the basket, and both Murray and Johnson scored with jump shots. Avdija hit a three-pointer, Sharpe slammed a dunk, and Kamara made a successful floater, with the score tied at 9-all early on. Jokic scored with a hook shot inside, Hardaway nailed a three, Brown drove for a layup, Gordon hit a step-back jumper, and Valanciunas scored with a hook shot under the basket, helping the Nuggets extend their lead. At the end of the quarter, the Nuggets led 26-18.

In the second quarter, Valanciunas hit a fadeaway jumper, Murray banked in a floater, pushing the Nuggets’ lead to 30-18. Sharpe and Kamara hit consecutive three-pointers, Holiday made an easy layup, and Sharpe nailed another three-pointer, cutting the Trail Blazers’ deficit to 31-34. Murray scored with a free-throw line jumper, Watson soared for a powerful dunk, Brown made an easy layup; Wesley finished a fast break, Sharpe threw down a dunk, Grant completed a three-point play, Avdija scored a floater, tying the game at 41-all. Jokic dunked, Gordon kept attacking the rim, Murray hit a step-back three-pointer, and Jokic scored both inside and outside to keep the Nuggets ahead. Wesley hit a fadeaway jumper, Holiday made a spin move floater, Avdija sank a three-pointer, and Kamara and Avdija continued scoring to keep the game close. At halftime, the Nuggets led 57-53.

In the third quarter, Jokic hit a long-range shot, Gordon scored under the basket, and Johnson converted a layup. Kamara hit a three-pointer, Klingen completed a three-point play, Holiday responded with a dunk, and the Nuggets held a slim 72-71 lead. Hardaway hit a three-pointer, Watson drove for a layup, helping the Nuggets increase their lead. At the end of the quarter, the Nuggets were ahead 81-71.

In the final quarter, Klingen threw down a dunk, Sharpe completed a three-point play, Avdija and Chris Murray scored consecutive baskets, and the Trail Blazers closed the gap to 80-86. Valanciunas scored inside, Murray banked in a shot, Watson finished a fast-break layup; Sharpe hit a three-pointer, Rowe scored on an alley-oop, Murray delivered a dunk, Kamara scored inside, Chris Murray hit an open three-pointer, and Avdija scored under the basket, giving the Trail Blazers a narrow 99-98 lead. Jokic completed a three-point play, Murray hit a long-range shot, and the Nuggets led 105-100. Grant made a hand-off layup, Avdija converted a three-point play, tying the game at 107-all. In the final moments, Grant drew a foul on Gordon and made both free throws, securing a 109-107 victory for the Trail Blazers.

Starting Lineups

Trail Blazers: Avdija, Kamara, Klingen, Sharpe, Holiday

Nuggets: Johnson, Gordon, Jokic, Brown, Murray