GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: PORTLAND (11-12) at DENVER (14-9)

NBA: PORTLAND (11-12) at DENVER (14-9)

<h3>Surging Trail Blazers go for seventh straight win</h3>

<div class="pre">Portland (11-12) at Denver (14-9) 8:00 pm EST</div>

DENVER (Ticker) - The Portland Trail Blazers will go for theirseventh straight victory when they visit the Denver Nuggets onSunday.


Portland is one win away from reaching the .500 mark for thefirst time since November 14 and is on its longest winningstreak since winning eight consecutive games from December14-30, 2002.


Brandon Roy has been stellar during the streak, averaging 23.8points. He scored 29 points in Friday's 99-91 victory overthe Utah Jazz.


However, if the Blazers look to continue their winning ways,they will have to break a nine-game losing streak in Denver,which has also beaten them in 11 of the past 12 games overall.

The Nuggets are coming off a 102-91 loss to the San AntonioSpurs on Saturday. Allen Iverson, who scored 30 points, isaveraging 30.2 points in December.


Denver is 3-3 on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Nuggets posted a 110-93 home win over the Blazers onNovember 14.

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">PORTLAND AT DENVER - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PORTLAND DENVER

F Martell Webster F Carmelo Anthony
F Channing Frye F Kenyon Martin
C Joel Przybilla C Marcus Camby
G Brandon Roy G Allen Iverson
G Steve Blake G Anthony Carter

OFFICIALS: Bill Spooner
Leon Wood
Mark Lindsey</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">PORTLAND VS DENVER - INACTIVES

PORTLAND DENVER

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
D MILES KNEE INJURY C ATKINS GROIN PULL
B JONES COACH'S DECISION S HUNTER KNEE INJURY
G ODEN KNEE INJURY NENE THUMB INJURY</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 6
DENVER 4 9:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 14
DENVER 13 5:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 21
DENVER 19 2:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 30
DENVER 25 END, 1ST QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 30 30
DENVER 25 25 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

POR - CHANNING FRYE 14, BRANDON ROY 5, JOEL
PRZYBILLA 4
DEN - CARMELO ANTHONY 6, ALLEN IVERSON 5,
EDUARDO NAJERA 5</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 35
DENVER 31 8:57 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 43
DENVER 37 5:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 49
DENVER 39 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 61
DENVER 49 HALFTIME</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 30 31 61
DENVER 25 24 49 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

POR - CHANNING FRYE 18, BRANDON ROY 9, JAMES
JONES 8
DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 13, KENYON MARTIN 12,
EDUARDO NAJERA 9</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 67
DENVER 52 9:08 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 79
DENVER 60 5:48 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 84
DENVER 70 2:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 92
DENVER 73 END, 3RD QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 30 31 31 92
DENVER 25 24 24 73 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

POR - BRANDON ROY 22, CHANNING FRYE 20, TRAVIS
OUTLAW 10
DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 22, KENYON MARTIN 14,
CARMELO ANTHONY 13</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 97
DENVER 80 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 105
DENVER 92 6:03 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 113
DENVER 97 2:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 116
DENVER 105 FINAL</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 30 31 31 24 116
DENVER 25 24 24 32 105 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: POR - BRANDON ROY 26, CHANNING FRYE 20, TRAVIS
OUTLAW 17
DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 38, CARMELO ANTHONY 19,
KENYON MARTIN 14</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
PORTLAND 116
DENVER 105 FINAL</div>

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers continue to marchforward despite the absences of their two 7-footers.

Brandon Roy had 26 points and 11 assists and Channing Fryescored a season-best 20 as the Blazers pushed their winningstreak to seven games with Sunday's 116-105 victory over theDenver Nuggets.


Travis Outlaw scored 17 points off the bench and former NuggetSteven Blake chipped in 12 for Portland, which has its longestwinning streak since the 2002-03 season and ended its nine-gameroad slide in the series.


With LaMarcus Aldridge (plantar fasciitis) missing his fourthgame in a row and No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden (knee) waitinguntil next season to showcase his skills, Portland has shown ithas plenty of young talent.


Frye, the prized player in the trade that sent Zach Randolph tothe New New Knicks in the summer, was almost unstoppable throughthe first two quarters, scoring 18 points to help the Blazersgrab a 61-49 bulge at intermission.


In the third quarter, Portland added more to its cushion behindan impressive 15-2 surge that was capped by Roy's 21-foot jumperto make it 76-54 with 7:18 remaining.


The Nuggets couldn't respond as they wasted Allen Iverson's38-point outburst - the fourth game this season with at least 30points for the former MVP.


Considered as a possible threat to San Antonio's crown, Denveronce again showed why its inability to play solid defense couldbe the reason for another first-round exit from the postseason.

Carmelo Anthony had 19 points and two steals for the Nuggets,who shot 48 percent (39-of-80) from the field en route to theirsecond straight loss.


Denver's Kenyon Martin returned from his one-game suspension fora flagrant foul in Wednesday's win over the New Orleans Hornetshere and finished with 14 points and four blocks.

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers continue to marchforward despite the absences of their two 7-footers.

Brandon Roy had 26 points and 11 assists and Channing Fryescored a season-best 20 as the Blazers pushed their winningstreak to seven games with Sunday's 116-105 victory over theDenver Nuggets.


Travis Outlaw scored 17 points off the bench and former NuggetSteven Blake chipped in 12 for Portland, which has its longestwinning streak since the 2002-03 season and ended its nine-gameroad slide in the series.


With LaMarcus Aldridge (plantar fasciitis) missing his fourthgame in a row and No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden (knee) waitinguntil next season to showcase his skills, Portland has shown ithas plenty of young talent.


Frye, the prized player in the trade that sent Zach Randolph tothe New New Knicks in the summer, was almost unstoppable throughthe first two quarters, scoring 18 points to help the Blazersgrab a 61-49 bulge at intermission.


In the third quarter, Portland added more to its cushion behindan impressive 15-2 surge that was capped by Roy's 21-foot jumperto make it 76-54 with 7:18 remaining.


The Nuggets couldn't respond as they wasted Allen Iverson's38-point outburst - the fourth game this season with at least 30points for the former MVP.


Considered as a possible threat to San Antonio's crown, Denveronce again showed why its inability to play solid defense couldbe the reason for another first-round exit from the postseason.

Carmelo Anthony had 19 points and two steals for the Nuggets,who shot 48 percent (39-of-80) from the field en route to theirsecond straight loss.


Denver's Kenyon Martin returned from his one-game suspension fora flagrant foul in Wednesday's win over the New Orleans Hornetshere and finished with 14 points and four blocks.

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (116) AT DENVER (105)

PORTLAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BLAKE G 26:31 5-8 0-0 0 0 0 2 5 1 2 12
B ROY G 40:13 11-27 4-6 4 2 6 11 3 1 2 26
C FRYE F 25:33 10-13 0-0 5 4 9 1 3 0 2 20
M WEBSTER F 18:23 1-3 1-1 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 3
J PRZYBILLA C 30:38 3-5 0-1 5 6 11 0 3 0 0 6
J JONES 29:37 4-6 3-3 2 5 7 1 3 0 1 14
T OUTLAW 28:26 7-15 3-4 2 3 5 2 0 2 2 17
J JACK 22:23 3-5 3-4 0 0 0 5 1 1 4 10
R LAFRENTZ 10:29 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2
S RODRIGUEZ 7:47 3-4 0-0 0 1 1 1 3 1 0 6

TOTALS 240:00 48-88 14-19 18 23 41 24 23 7 14 116
(.545) (.737) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 15 (0 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 29:30 4-6 0-0 0 2 2 2 4 1 0 8
A IVERSON G 45:31 11-22 13-15 0 2 2 6 0 3 3 38
K MARTIN F 36:21 7-11 0-0 1 4 5 3 3 0 1 14
C ANTHONY F 42:05 6-17 5-8 2 2 4 3 3 2 5 19
M CAMBY C 33:52 2-7 0-0 4 3 7 9 3 0 1 4
L KLEIZA 25:35 4-11 1-2 2 4 6 1 1 0 3 11
E NAJERA 23:09 4-5 0-0 2 2 4 2 5 1 1 9
J MCCOY 1:19 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B JONES 1:19 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
Y DIAWARA 1:19 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 39-80 19-25 11 20 31 26 20 7 14 105
(.488) (.760) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

PORTLAND 30 31 31 24 - 116
DENVER 25 24 24 32 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: PORTLAND - J PRZYBILLA 3, R LAFRENTZ, C FRYE, T OUTLAW.
DENVER - K MARTIN 4, M CAMBY 2, C ANTHONY, L KLEIZA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PORTLAND 6-16 (.375), S BLAKE 2-4, B ROY 0-4, J JONES 3-
5, T OUTLAW 0-1, J JACK 1-1, S RODRIGUEZ 0-1. DENVER 8-20 (.400), A CARTER 0-
1, A IVERSON 3-6, C ANTHONY 2-6, L KLEIZA 2-5, E NAJERA 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - DELAY OF GAME, L KLEIZA.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, LEON WOOD, MARK LINDSEY.
A - N/A. T - N/A.</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (116)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Blake 26:31 5-8 0-0 0-0 2 5 12
B Roy 40:13 11-27 4-6 4-6 11 3 26
C Frye 25:33 10-13 0-0 5-9 1 3 20
M Webster 18:23 1-3 1-1 0-1 1 2 3
J Przybilla 30:38 3-5 0-1 5-11 0 3 6
J Jones 29:37 4-6 3-3 2-7 1 3 14
T Outlaw 28:26 7-15 3-4 2-5 2 0 17
J Jack 22:23 3-5 3-4 0-0 5 1 10
R LaFrentz 10:29 1-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 2
S Rodriguez 7:47 3-4 0-0 0-1 1 3 6

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 48-88 14-19 18-41 24 23 116
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.545, FT-.737. 3-Point Goals:
6-16, .375 (S Blake 2-4, B Roy 0-4, J Jones
3-5, T Outlaw 0-1, J Jack 1-1, S Rodriguez
0-1). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:6 (J
Przybilla 3, R LaFrentz, C Frye, T Outlaw).
Turnovers:14 (J Jack 4, S Blake 2, C Frye 2,
T Outlaw 2, B Roy 2, J Jones, M Webster).
Steals: 7 (T Outlaw 2, R LaFrentz, S Blake, S
Rodriguez, B Roy, J Jack).


DENVER (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 29:30 4-6 0-0 0-2 2 4 8
A Iverson 45:31 11-22 13-15 0-2 6 0 38
K Martin 36:21 7-11 0-0 1-5 3 3 14
C Anthony 42:05 6-17 5-8 2-4 3 3 19
M Camby 33:52 2-7 0-0 4-7 9 3 4
L Kleiza 25:35 4-11 1-2 2-6 1 1 11
E Najera 23:09 4-5 0-0 2-4 2 5 9
J McCoy 1:19 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
B Jones 1:19 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2
Y Diawara 1:19 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-80 19-25 11-31 26 20 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.488, FT-.760. 3-Point Goals:
8-20, .400 (A Carter 0-1, A Iverson 3-6, C
Anthony 2-6, L Kleiza 2-5, E Najera 1-2).
Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:8 (K Martin
4, M Camby 2, C Anthony, L Kleiza).
Turnovers:14 (C Anthony 5, A Iverson 3, L
Kleiza 3, M Camby, E Najera, K Martin).
Steals: 7 (A Iverson 3, C Anthony 2, A
Carter, E Najera).

--------------------------------------------
PORTLAND 30 31 31 24 - 116
DENVER 25 24 24 32 - 105
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 2 (Delay Of Game,
6:54 3rd; L Kleiza, 9:19 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: N/A. T: N/A.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Leon Wood, Mark
Lindsey.</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (116) AT DENVER (105)

PORTLAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BLAKE G 26:31 5-8 0-0 0 0 0 2 5 1 2 12
B ROY G 40:13 11-27 4-6 4 2 6 11 3 1 2 26
C FRYE F 25:33 10-13 0-0 5 4 9 1 3 0 2 20
M WEBSTER F 18:23 1-3 1-1 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 3
J PRZYBILLA C 30:38 3-5 0-1 5 6 11 0 3 0 0 6
J JONES 29:37 4-6 3-3 2 5 7 1 3 0 1 14
T OUTLAW 28:26 7-15 3-4 2 3 5 2 0 2 2 17
J JACK 22:23 3-5 3-4 0 0 0 5 1 1 4 10
R LAFRENTZ 10:29 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2
S RODRIGUEZ 7:47 3-4 0-0 0 1 1 1 3 1 0 6
L ALDRIDGE DNP - PLANTAR FASCITIS, RIGHT F
J MCROBERTS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 48-88 14-19 18 23 41 24 23 7 14 116
(.545) (.737) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 15 (14 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 28:30 4-6 0-0 0 2 2 2 4 1 0 8
A IVERSON G 45:31 11-22 13-15 0 2 2 6 0 3 3 38
K MARTIN F 36:21 7-11 0-0 1 4 5 3 3 0 1 14
C ANTHONY F 42:05 6-17 5-8 2 2 4 3 3 2 5 19
M CAMBY C 33:52 2-7 0-0 4 3 7 9 3 0 1 4
L KLEIZA 26:35 4-11 1-2 2 4 6 1 1 0 3 11
E NAJERA 23:09 4-5 0-0 2 2 4 2 5 1 1 9
J MCCOY 1:19 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B JONES 1:19 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
Y DIAWARA 1:19 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
V WAFER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J SMITH DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 39-80 19-25 11 20 31 26 20 7 14 105
(.488) (.760) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 14 (22 PTS)

PORTLAND 30 31 31 24 - 116
DENVER 25 24 24 32 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: PORTLAND - J PRZYBILLA 3, R LAFRENTZ, C FRYE, T OUTLAW.
DENVER - K MARTIN 4, M CAMBY 2, C ANTHONY, L KLEIZA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PORTLAND 6-16 (.375), S BLAKE 2-4, B ROY 0-4, J JONES 3-
5, T OUTLAW 0-1, J JACK 1-1, S RODRIGUEZ 0-1. DENVER 8-20 (.400), A CARTER 0-
1, A IVERSON 3-6, C ANTHONY 2-6, L KLEIZA 2-5, E NAJERA 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - DELAY OF GAME, L KLEIZA.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, LEON WOOD, MARK LINDSEY.
A - 13,678. T - 2:11.</div>

NBA: PORTLAND at DENVER

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (116)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Blake 26:31 5-8 0-0 0-0 2 5 12
B Roy 40:13 11-27 4-6 4-6 11 3 26
C Frye 25:33 10-13 0-0 5-9 1 3 20
M Webster 18:23 1-3 1-1 0-1 1 2 3
J Przybilla 30:38 3-5 0-1 5-11 0 3 6
J Jones 29:37 4-6 3-3 2-7 1 3 14
T Outlaw 28:26 7-15 3-4 2-5 2 0 17
J Jack 22:23 3-5 3-4 0-0 5 1 10
R LaFrentz 10:29 1-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 2
S Rodriguez 7:47 3-4 0-0 0-1 1 3 6
L Aldridge DNP - PLANTAR FASCITIS, RIGHT F
J McRoberts DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 48-88 14-19 18-41 24 23 116
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.545, FT-.737. 3-Point Goals:
6-16, .375 (S Blake 2-4, B Roy 0-4, J Jones
3-5, T Outlaw 0-1, J Jack 1-1, S Rodriguez
0-1). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:6 (J
Przybilla 3, R LaFrentz, C Frye, T Outlaw).
Turnovers:14 (J Jack 4, S Blake 2, C Frye 2,
T Outlaw 2, B Roy 2, J Jones, M Webster).
Steals: 7 (T Outlaw 2, R LaFrentz, S Blake, S
Rodriguez, B Roy, J Jack).


DENVER (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 28:30 4-6 0-0 0-2 2 4 8
A Iverson 45:31 11-22 13-15 0-2 6 0 38
K Martin 36:21 7-11 0-0 1-5 3 3 14
C Anthony 42:05 6-17 5-8 2-4 3 3 19
M Camby 33:52 2-7 0-0 4-7 9 3 4
L Kleiza 26:35 4-11 1-2 2-6 1 1 11
E Najera 23:09 4-5 0-0 2-4 2 5 9
J McCoy 1:19 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
B Jones 1:19 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2
Y Diawara 1:19 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
V Wafer DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Smith DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-80 19-25 11-31 26 20 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.488, FT-.760. 3-Point Goals:
8-20, .400 (A Carter 0-1, A Iverson 3-6, C
Anthony 2-6, L Kleiza 2-5, E Najera 1-2).
Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:8 (K Martin
4, M Camby 2, C Anthony, L Kleiza).
Turnovers:14 (C Anthony 5, A Iverson 3, L
Kleiza 3, M Camby, E Najera, K Martin).
Steals: 7 (A Iverson 3, C Anthony 2, A
Carter, E Najera).

--------------------------------------------
PORTLAND 30 31 31 24 - 116
DENVER 25 24 24 32 - 105
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 2 (Delay Of Game,
6:54 3rd; L Kleiza, 9:19 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,678. T: 2:11.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Leon Wood, Mark
Lindsey.</div>