Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets Recap: Jokic’s Triple-Double Powers Denver’s 137-132 OT Thriller – Final Score & Highlights
Sportsphere24 Updates April 7, 2026
Final Score Box Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POR | 35 | 37 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 132 |
| DEN | 31 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 19 | 137 |
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Attendance: 19,998 (Sellout)
Time of Game: 2 hours, 39 minutes
Winning Pitcher (NBA term: Winner): Denver Nuggets
MVP of the Game: Nikola Jokic – 35 PTS, 14 REB, 13 AST (33rd triple-double of season)
Introduction: A Classic Western Conference Showdown
For 47 minutes and 40 seconds on Monday night, the Portland Trail Blazers looked like a team destined to steal a road win against one of the NBA's elite. They led by as many as 18 points late in the third quarter. They set a franchise record with 25 three-pointers . Toumani Camara was having the game of his career.
Then the Denver Nuggets remembered they have Nikola Jokic and a 9-game winning streak to protect.
Final Score (OT): Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132.
In a game that had everything – a historic 3-point barrage, a furious 21-5 fourth-quarter rally, and overtime heroics from Aaron Gordon – the defending Western Conference champions proved why they are now sitting alone in third place in the West at 51-28 .
For Portland (40-39), this loss stings. Their three-game winning streak is snapped, and they dropped back into the No. 9 spot in the West, a half-game behind the LA Clippers .
Looking for more NBA action? Check out our full recap of Dodgers vs. Blue Jays: L.A. Crushes Toronto 14-2 – yes, we cover baseball too!
First Half: Portland’s Historic 3-Point Barrage
The Blazers came out firing from deep and never stopped.
1st Quarter: Camara Catches Fire
Portland’s Toumani Camara – who entered the game averaging just 9.2 points per game – exploded for three 3-pointers in the first 8 minutes. His fourth triple of the quarter pushed the Blazers' lead to 30-23 with 2:24 remaining .
End of 1st Quarter: Trail Blazers 35, Nuggets 31.
Camara had 12 points in the quarter alone.
2nd Quarter: The Lead Grows
The Blazers' long-range assault continued. By halftime, Portland had already drained 12 three-pointers and pushed their lead to 72-58 . The Nuggets' defense looked helpless against the Blazers' five-out offensive sets.
Deni Avdija, acquired in the offseason from Washington, was getting to the line at will. He would finish the half with 12 points, including 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Halftime Score: Trail Blazers 72, Nuggets 58.
At this point, Ball Arena was quiet. The Nuggets' 9-game winning streak appeared to be in serious jeopardy.
Third Quarter: Portland Pushes the Lead to 18
The Blazers showed no signs of letting up after the break.
The 18-Point Lead (3rd Quarter)
With 3:43 remaining in the third quarter, Camara hit a mid-range jumper to give Portland a commanding 96-78 lead . The Nuggets' bench looked stunned. Head coach Michael Malone was searching for answers.
Nikola Jokic, who had been relatively quiet by his standards, tried to keep Denver afloat. He scored 8 points in the quarter, but the Blazers answered every basket with a 3-pointer of their own.
End of 3rd Quarter: Trail Blazers 101, Nuggets 87.
Portland was 20 minutes away from one of the biggest road upsets of the NBA season. But basketball is a game of runs.
Read next: How Nikola Jokić became the most unstoppable force in the NBA
The Comeback: Denver’s 21-5 Run Erases the Lead
4th Quarter – The Turning Point
With 8:34 remaining in regulation, Camara hit another jumper. The scoreboard read 115-99, Portland .
Then the Nuggets flipped a switch.
The Run: Denver outscored Portland 21-5 over the next 7 minutes and 22 seconds .
Nikola Jokic took over. The Joker scored 10 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter alone . He attacked the paint relentlessly, drawing fouls and dishing to open shooters.
Jonas Valanciunas – the veteran center acquired in the offseason – played a massive role off the bench. In just 10 minutes of action, Valanciunas scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, providing the energy Denver desperately needed .
The Clutch Sequence (Final 90 Seconds)
The final 90 seconds of regulation were absolute chaos.
1:12 remaining: Portland leads 123-120. Avdija at the line. He hits both. 125-120, Portland .
1:12 remaining: Aaron Gordon – not Jokic, not Murray – catches the ball in the corner. He rises up and drills a game-tying 3-pointer. 125-123, Portland .
47 seconds remaining: Avdija misses a 3-pointer. Gordon grabs the rebound.
27 seconds remaining: Gordon – again – hits a deep 2-point jumper from the right baseline. DENVER LEADS 125-123 .
20 seconds remaining: Deni Avdija drives through traffic and converts a tough layup. TIED AT 125 .
0.0 seconds: Nikola Jokic rises for a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer. It misses. OVERTIME .
Ball Arena erupted. The Blazers, who had controlled the game for 47 minutes, now had to survive an extra frame in one of the league's toughest buildings.
Related: NBA Western Conference playoff standings 2026: Every team's path to the Finals
Overtime: Denver Dominates the Extra Frame
If the fourth quarter was a battle, overtime was a statement.
Gordon’s 4th Three-Pointer: Just 30 seconds into OT, Gordon knocked down his fourth 3-pointer of the night – a dagger that put Denver up 128-125 .
Murray Takes Over: Jamal Murray, who had 20 points on the night, scored 7 of his 20 in overtime . His two free throws and a thunderous dunk pushed the lead to 135-128 with just over a minute remaining .
The Exclamation Point: With the game sealed, Jokic found Murray for a backdoor cut. Murray threw down a two-handed slam, capping a 10-3 Nuggets run in OT .
Final Overtime Score: Nuggets 19, Trail Blazers 7.
Final Score: Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132.
Sportsphere24 Player Ratings
Denver Nuggets
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic (C) | 35 | 14 | 13 | 10/10 | 33rd triple-double. Took over in the 4th. MVP. |
| Aaron Gordon (F) | 23 | 8 | 4 | 9.5/10 | Clutch 3 to tie. Clutch jumper to lead. 4 threes. |
| Jamal Murray (G) | 20 | 5 | 6 | 9/10 | 7 points in OT. Ice in his veins. |
| Jonas Valanciunas (C) | 14 | 3 | 1 | 8.5/10 | 6-of-7 shooting in 10 minutes. Game-changer off bench. |
| Julian Strawther (G) | 11 | 1 | 0 | 7.5/10 | 4-of-5 shooting. Solid minutes. |
Portland Trail Blazers
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toumani Camara (F) | 30 | 5 | 0 | 9.5/10 | Career night. 8-of-11 from 3. Unreal. |
| Deni Avdija (F) | 26 | 4 | 10 | 9/10 | 13-of-14 from the line. Clutch layup to force OT. |
| Jrue Holiday (G) | 19 | 4 | 11 | 8/10 | Double-double. Solid two-way game. |
| Donovan Clingan (C) | 18 | 12 | 0 | 8/10 | Double-double. 3 blocks. Bright future. |
| Scoot Henderson (G) | 16 | 6 | 7 | 7.5/10 | Good vision. Struggled with turnovers late. |
Advanced Stats & Records Broken
Franchise Record: 25 Three-Pointers
The Portland Trail Blazers shot an incredible 25-of-52 (48.1%) from beyond the arc on Monday night .
25 threes made = New franchise record for a single game
Toumani Camara: 8-of-11 from 3 (career high)
Scoot Henderson: 4-of-9 from 3
Jrue Holiday: 3-of-6 from 3
The Paint Differential That Changed the Game
While Portland dominated from deep, Denver dominated inside.
| Category | Trail Blazers | Nuggets |
|---|---|---|
| Points in Paint | 32 | 66 |
| 3-Pointers Made | 25 | 8 |
| 3-Point Attempts | 52 | 31 |
| 3-Point Percentage | 48.1% | 25.8% |
| Free Throws Made | 18 | 15 |
The Nuggets' 66-32 advantage in points in the paint was the single biggest factor in the game . Jokic, Gordon, and Valanciunas simply had no answer in the paint.
Hard-hit rate (NBA term: shooting efficiency):
Blazers: 48.1% from 3, 90% from FT line
Nuggets: 49.4% from field overall, 66 paint points
Playoff Implications: What This Means for the West
Denver Nuggets (51-28)
With the win, Denver:
Moves into 3rd place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the LA Lakers (50-28)
Clinches at least a Top-4 seed with 3 games remaining
The Nuggets are now 13-2 in their last 15 games and look like legitimate title contenders again.
Portland Trail Blazers (40-39)
With the loss, Portland:
Falls to 9th place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the LA Clippers
Has their 3-game winning streak snapped
Drops to 18-21 on the road
The Blazers are now 2-4 in their last 6 games and are fighting to avoid the Play-In Tournament's elimination game.
See also: NBA Play-In Tournament 2026: How it works and who's in
Historical Context: A Game for the Record Books
Monday night's game will be remembered for two historic achievements:
1. Portland's Franchise Record 25 Threes
The Blazers' previous franchise record for 3-pointers in a single game was 23, set in 2021 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On Monday, they smashed that record with 25 .
2. The Largest Comeback of the Nuggets' Season
Denver trailed by 18 points in the third quarter (96-78) . This marks the largest comeback victory of the Nuggets' 2025-26 season and their biggest since rallying from 20 down against Golden State in 2024.
3. Jokic's 33rd Triple-Double
Nikola Jokic recorded his 33rd triple-double of the season on Monday night . He is now:
3rd all-time in single-season triple-doubles (behind Russell Westbrook's 42 and Oscar Robertson's 41)
1st among centers in NBA history for career triple-doubles
Quotes from the Locker Room
Blazers coach Tiago Splitter (yes, the former NBA player turned head coach) didn't mince words after the loss:
"We’re playing against a high-level team. They just had the poise to finish the game, and they were better than us – simple as that."
Aaron Gordon on his clutch shooting:
"We never lost belief. That's what this team does. We fight until the final buzzer – and then some."
Nikola Jokic (as reported by AP):
"They made 25 threes. That's crazy. But we stayed with our game. Paint. Rebound. Run. That's Denver basketball."
Injury Updates
Portland Trail Blazers
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Anfernee Simons | Ankle | Day-to-day |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
| Robert Williams III | Knee | Out for season (returning from previous injury, minutes managed) |
Denver Nuggets
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vlatko Cancar | Knee | Out for season |
| DaRon Holmes II | Achilles | Out for season |
| Peyton Watson | Ankle | Day-to-day |
The Nuggets are remarkably healthy for this stage of the season – a major advantage as they chase the No. 2 seed in the West.
Related: NBA injury tracker 2026: Every team's IL list updated daily
What's Next: Game 5 of the Season Series
The Trail Blazers and Nuggets have played 4 times this season. Denver leads the season series 3-1 .
| Date | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | Portland | DEN 109, POR 107 |
| December 2025 | Portland | DEN 103, POR 157 (POR win) |
| February 2026 | Denver | DEN 112, POR 128 |
| April 6, 2026 | Denver | DEN 137, POR 132 (OT) |
The two teams will not meet again in the regular season unless they face off in the playoffs.
Next Games for Both Teams
| Team | Next Opponent | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail Blazers | San Antonio Spurs | April 8, 2026 | Away |
| Nuggets | Memphis Grizzlies | April 8, 2026 | Home |
Portland needs a win in San Antonio to keep pace with the Clippers for the No. 8 seed.
Denver will look to extend their winning streak to 10 against a struggling Memphis team.
Sportsphere24 Predictions
Blazers at Spurs: Portland is desperate. San Antonio is playing for lottery position. Prediction: Blazers by 8.
Nuggets vs. Grizzlies: Memphis has lost 4 of 5. Denver at home with the No. 3 seed in sight. Prediction: Nuggets by 12. Jokic triple-double watch: ACTIVE.
Final Thoughts
Monday night's overtime thriller was a microcosm of both teams' seasons.
The Nuggets (51-28) have championship DNA. When they needed a stop, they got one. When they needed a bucket, Aaron Gordon delivered. When they needed their MVP, Nikola Jokic took over. That's what contenders do.
The Trail Blazers (40-39) showed why they are a dangerous Play-In team. Toumani Camara announced himself as a legitimate scoring threat. Deni Avdija proved he can be a primary playmaker. But Portland's inability to close games has been a recurring theme – they are now 2-7 in games decided by 5 points or fewer this season.
Can the Blazers bounce back in San Antonio and secure a Play-In spot? Will the Nuggets catch the Lakers and claim the No. 2 seed?
Check back to Sportsphere24 Updates for complete coverage of both teams' playoff pushes.
Up next: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs: Live updates, score, and highlights
Also on Sportsphere24: Nuggets vs. Grizzlies: Game preview and prediction