NBA: Portland Trail Blazers vs Denver Nuggets player ratings, result

Moda Center saw Portland Trail Blazers host Denver Nuggets in ir regular-season opener on Thursday morning. Nuggets finished second in Western Conference last season, while Trail Blazers mand to come in third. In what was a rematch of last season's Western Conference semi-finals, Thursday morning game was Blazers' 14th match-up against Nuggets within last year. Familiarity, refore, wasn't an issue between two sides.

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Blazers completely overhauled ir roster this season, with a total of seven outgoings in offseason. se outgoings, however, were balanced out by Blazers adding six new faces to ir roster, along with three new starters. number of changes will bode well for Blazers' coach Terry Stotts, as he looks to steer Blazers to ar deep run in Western Conference this time around. 

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Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic started game for Nuggets, as y looked to get one over Blazers after  Nuggets were left with a bitter taste in ir mouths after semi-final defeat last season. In ar exciting match-up, Blazers headed into third quarter with a marginal 74-73 lead with Damian Lillard leading way with 19 points and eight assists. With five minutes left in fourth quarter, Blazers held on to an 88-87 lead. But visitors had or plans, as Nikola Jokic turned it on for Nuggets in dying minutes of game. Jokic's offensive turn meant that Nuggets got one over Blazers at Moda Center, with game ending at 108-100 in favour of Denver Nuggets. 

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Player Ratings

Portland Trail Blazers

Rodney Hood - 6.5/10

Damian Lillard - 8.5/10

CJ McCollum - 7/10

Hasan Whiteside - 7/10

 Zach Collins - 6/10

Kent Bazemore - 6/10

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Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic - 8/10

Will Barton - 7.5/10

Jamal Murray - 7/10

Paul Millsap - 6.5/10

Torrey Craig - 6/10

Monte Morris - 6/10