The Denver Nuggets were unable to end the back-to-back-to-back series of games on Saturday night with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, They fell, 117-97. The Nuggets went 1-2 over the last three games by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers on the road and then losing to the Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nuggets had battled back from a 13-point deficit at one point in the second quarter to narrow it down to six points at halftime. Things got closer to start the third quarter, but the quarter soon turned into a 26-18 win for Portland. Danilo Gallinari dropped in 20 points for the Nuggets while Kosta Koufos filled in for Timofey Mozgov by scoring 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
Portland received 33 points from Nicolas Batum, who came off the bench and played for 25 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge followed closely with 29 points. Marcus Camby grabbed 20 rebounds.
The Nuggets (15-9, 8-5 away) will take Sunday off before hosting the Houston Rockets on Monday night.
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