A return to Denver was just what the Nuggets needed following a two-game losing streak to finish their five-game road trip. The Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 109-90, on Wednesday night.
Nene Hilario scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups each scored 20 points, the former pulling down five rebounds and the latter dishing the ball out five times. Kenyon Martin finished with 11 points (including a successful three-point shot) and eight rebounds. Arron Afflalo didn't break into double-digit points, but he did contribute nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
J.R. Smith scored 16 points from off the bench, and Al Harrington grabbed nine boards in addition to scoring seven points. The rest of the bench combined for four points, two points each by Chris Andersen and Ty Lawson.
The Blazers' Wesley Matthews finished with a team-high 19 points, but he left twice due to injury. The first was before halftime when it appeared that he hurt his right ankle quite badly. He returned for the start of the second half, but left seconds into it with a left leg injury. He played a total of 28 minutes.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Nicolas Batum, whom the Nuggets reportedly wanted to trade for in some sort of three-team deal for Carmelo Anthony, had 17 points. Andre Miller put up a double-double, 11 points and 10 assists.
The Nuggets (29-20, 21-5 home) face the Utah Jazz on Friday night. ESPN will televise the game at 8:30 p.m. MT.