Pro Sports

McCollum helps Trail Blazers knock off Nuggets 110-103

Posted December 31, 2015 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Kostas Papanikolaou during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - C.J. McCollum scored 29 points, Allen Crabbe had 20 and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 110-103 on Wednesday night for their third consecutive victory.

McCollum, starting at point guard for a fourth consecutive game with Damian Lillard sidelined with a left foot injury, hit 12 of 19 shots and handed out four assists. Crabbe hit 8 of 14 shots, including a 4-for-7 performance from 3-point range.

Six Blazers scored in double figures, including 14 points from Al-Farouq Aminu.

Will Barton, traded by Portland to Denver last season, led the Nuggets with 31 points, one off his season high. Barton hit four 3-pointers and made 12 of 22 shots from the field.

Denver has lost seven of eight. Gary Harris scored 19 points for the Nuggets.

Denver made one more charge in the final period, paring a 96-80 deficit to five by running off 11 consecutive points with 5:05 remaining. But McCollum hit a 20-footer and Crabbe knocked down a 3-pointer, and the Blazers had the lead back to 103-93.

The Blazers started to grab control in the third quarter. Crabbe hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 12-2 run, and Portland carried an 84-71 lead into the fourth quarter.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Coach Michael Malone said F Danilo Gallinari (left ankle sprain) and C Jusuf Nurkic (left patellar tendon) could return for Saturday's game against Golden State. Gallinari has missed the past six games, while Nurkic hasn't played this season. G Emmanuel Mudiay (right ankle sprain) is still a week to 10 days away, Malone said. ... Denver has lost nine of its last 10 games to Portland. ... Barton has scored at least 10 points in 18 consecutive games.

Blazers: Reserve forward Ed Davis returned to the lineup after missing one game with a left ankle bone bruise. ... Lillard went through a pregame workout, but missed his fifth consecutive game (left foot plantar fasciitis). ... Since replacing the injured Lillard as Portland's starting point guard, McCollum is averaging 24.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists.

NEXT UP

Nuggets: Visit Golden State on Saturday.

Blazers: Visit Utah on Thursday.

___

This version corrects to 29 points for McCollum instead of 27.

Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, center, dunks over Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee, left, and forward Noah Vonleh, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) The Associated Press

Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris, center, drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers forward Allen Crabbe, left, and forward Noah Vonleh, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) The Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee, right, shoots over Denver Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) The Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) The Associated Press

Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton dunks over Portland Trail Blazers forward Noah Vonleh, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) The Associated Press

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