Nuggets at Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Denver Nuggets during an intense seven-game, second-round playoff series last season. The two teams renew acquaintances right off the bat when they meet in the season opener on Wednesday in Portland.
The Trail Blazers posted a 100-96 win in Game 7 to advance and send the Nuggets home and Denver coach Michael Malone said the intense matchups could lead to many more fierce battles. "I don't think it is a rivalry at this point," Malone told reporters. "I think it is hopefully something we can evolve it into. We have a lot of respect for them and I think they have the same for us but it is just Game 1 of 82." Portland superstar guard Damian Lillard doesn't expect there to be a carryover from the postseason series but he has a heavy respect for the talent on the Nuggets. "They're a really good team," Lillard told reporters. "They have everything you need on a team. They have good shooters, they have bigs. They score on the perimeter and pass the ball well. ... They have good size and they play for a great coach."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN, Altitude (Denver), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (2018-19: 54-28): Denver enjoyed a superb campaign last season in which it earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference after missing the postseason in each of the previous five seasons. "We can't sneak up on nobody anymore," backup point guard Monte Morris told reporters. "They're circling us on the calendar now. We just gotta be ready to go every time because we're solidified now as far as the top teams in the West." Center Nikola Jokic is now considered one of the best players in the league after being an All-NBA first-team selection last season while point guard Jamal Murray runs the team and isn't afraid to hoist up shots from anywhere.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (2018-19: 53-29): Center Jusuf Nurkic remains sidelined indefinitely due to the horrific leg injury he suffered late last season and Hassan Whiteside was acquired from the Miami Heat to open the campaign as the center. Whiteside has been plagued by an ankle injury but proclaimed he will be ready for the opener and Portland is also hoping young power forward Zach Collins will take a step forward. Lillard and shooting guard CJ McCollum will again be counted on for the bulk of the scoring as one of the NBA's top backcourt duos.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nuggets have won six of the past seven regular-season meetings.
2. Denver F Michael Porter Jr. is part of the roster after missing last season due to a back injury.
3. Portland C-PF Pau Gasol (foot) is expected to miss the opener.