McCollum scores 32 as Blazers top skidding Nuggets 119-100

By ERIK GARCÍA GUNDERSEN
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 32 points and the Portland Trail Blazers handed the depleted Denver Nuggets their fifth straight loss with a 119-100 victory. Damian Lillard had 25 points and five assists to help the Blazers to their fourth consecutive win and ninth in a row at home. Jeff Green led Denver with 24 points. After the Nuggets took a 49-48 lead with 3:35 left in the second quarter, Portland seized control. The Trail Blazers unleashed an 18-3 spurt to close the first half, sparked by four 3-pointers from Lillard and capped by a buzzer-beating layup by McCollum, giving them a 64-52 lead at halftime. From that point on, the smallest Blazers lead was eight points.