Denver Nuggets 157, Portland Trail Blazers 103 | February 20, 2026 | Moda Center, Portland, OR
The Denver Nuggets walked into Portland’s Moda Center on Friday night and put together one of the most complete offensive performances in recent NBA memory. Behind a dominant Nikola Jokic and a balanced attack that never let up, Denver rolled to a 157-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers — the most points ever scored by the Nuggets on the road and the highest single-game point total by any team in the NBA this season. With an attendance of 18,566 watching the carnage unfold, Denver’s performance was a statement from wire to wire.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Denver Sets the Tone Early
There was no feeling-out period on Friday night. Denver came out firing in the first quarter, outscoring Portland 41-27 to stake an immediate 14-point lead. The Nuggets’ ball movement was crisp, their shot selection disciplined, and their defensive intensity sufficient to keep the Blazers from gaining any early momentum. Scoring 41 points in a single quarter signaled right away that this was going to be a long night for the home team.
Second Quarter: Denver Maintains the Onslaught
If Portland hoped to regroup at the break, the second quarter offered no relief. Denver matched its first-quarter output exactly, posting another 41 points to Portland’s 26. The Nuggets entered halftime with a staggering 82-53 lead, having scored more points in the first half than many teams score in an entire game. Denver’s depth and efficiency were on full display as multiple contributors kept the scoreboard ticking at a relentless pace.
Third Quarter: No Mercy from the Nuggets
Any slim hope that Portland could string together a run in the second half evaporated quickly. Denver’s best quarter of the game came in the third, as the Nuggets poured in 43 points against Portland’s 32. The margin swelled to as many as 70 points, and Denver’s starters — most notably Jokic — were being managed carefully in terms of minutes even as the rout deepened.
Fourth Quarter: Reserves Close It Out
With the outcome firmly decided, Denver’s reserves finished the game in the fourth quarter, still outscoring Portland 32-18 to seal the historic 157-103 final. The Blazers, to their credit, never stopped competing, but the talent and execution gap was simply too wide to overcome on this particular night. Portland was held to just 18 points in the final frame, a quiet ending to a difficult evening.
Key Performers
Nikola Jokic — Denver Nuggets
The reigning MVP conversation once again begins and ends with Nikola Jokic. In just 29.5 minutes of action, Jokic finished with 32 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, doing his damage efficiently before being pulled as the game got out of hand. The fact that Denver scored 157 points and Jokic wasn’t even on the floor for the entire game underscores just how loaded this Nuggets roster is when it is operating at full throttle. Jokic’s ability to orchestrate Denver’s offense — setting up teammates while also creating his own high-percentage looks — was the engine that got the blowout started.
Deni Avdija — Portland Trail Blazers
In a difficult night for Portland, forward Deni Avdija was a bright spot. Avdija led the team in assists with a game-high 13 dimes, adding 15 points and eight rebounds for a well-rounded performance that earned him team-best marks in ESPN’s player rating. His willingness to facilitate and keep the offense organized even in a lopsided game reflected positively on his continued development as a versatile wing.
Jrue Holiday — Portland Trail Blazers
Veteran guard Jrue Holiday led Portland in scoring with 19 points, providing some resistance against an otherwise dominant Denver defense. Holiday’s experience and composure helped keep the Blazers from completely unraveling, but even his contributions couldn’t make a meaningful dent in a 54-point deficit.
Donovan Clingan — Portland Trail Blazers
Young center Donovan Clingan paced Portland on the glass, finishing with a team-high nine rebounds. The second-year big man continues to show flashes of his potential in the frontcourt, though Friday’s matchup offered a stark lesson in what an elite NBA center looks like at full speed.
Game Analysis
Friday’s result was less a game and more a clinic. Denver’s offense operated with the kind of precision that makes it nearly impossible to guard — Jokic at the center of everything, with movement, spacing, and decision-making that held Portland’s defense accountable at every moment. The Nuggets shot efficiently from all three levels, and their depth meant that even when starters were rested, the quality of play barely dipped.
Portland, for its part, struggled throughout. The Blazers shot just 40.7% from the field and 31.9% from three-point range on 47 attempts, and went just 18-of-29 from the free throw line (62.1%) — a number that compounded their scoring difficulties. Their 25 assists on 35 made field goals suggest they were moving the ball, but Denver’s defensive presence consistently disrupted any rhythm the Blazers tried to establish.
The 54-point margin of defeat is a brutal number by any measure, but the most striking element of this performance was that Denver achieved it without needing to push Jokic past the 30-minute mark. That speaks to the Nuggets’ roster depth and to how decisively they controlled every phase of this game from the opening tip.
Standings and Series Implications
With the win, Denver continues to bolster its position in the Western Conference standings, adding an emphatic road victory to its résumé. Portland falls to 27-30 on the season (16-14 at home, 11-16 on the road), sitting right on the playoff bubble and in need of a strong response in their upcoming games. For the Nuggets, setting a franchise road-scoring record and posting the NBA’s highest single-game point total of the 2025-26 season sends a clear message about their capabilities when fully engaged. If Denver continues to play at this level heading into the stretch run, they will be a formidable opponent for anyone in the Western Conference playoffs.
