Nearly three weeks ago, the Portland Trail Blazers were out of sync and stumbling along at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Led by a red-hot Brandon Roy, the suddenly surging Trail Blazers are now battling the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Northwest Division.

Second-place Portland looks to win its 10th straight game and cut into the first-place Nuggets' lead as the division rivals meet at the Rose Garden on Friday.

The Trail Blazers (14-12) had the West's third-worst record and fell seven games out of first place in the Northwest following a 100-79 loss to San Antonio on Dec. 2. That was Portland's ninth defeat in 10 games.

Since that loss, the Blazers have won nine consecutive games to draw within 1 1/2 games of first-place Denver (15-10). This is Portland's longest winning streak since reeling off 12 straight victories from Feb. 17-March 8, 2002.

"Nine is great but we're looking forward to 10,'' Roy said after Wednesday's 101-96 victory over Toronto.

Roy had 25 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on Wednesday after missing Tuesday's practice because of the flu.

"I was hurting a little bit, but we're doing something special right now so I didn't want that to get in the way,'' Roy said.

Roy has been instrumental to Portland's run, earning consecutive Western Conference player of the week honors. He is averaging 24.2 points and 7.0 assists while shooting 51.8 percent during the winning streak after averaging just 9.4 points and 4.8 assists on 26.5 percent shooting in the previous five games.

"He's not just having a hot streak,'' Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "What we're seeing out of him is what he is capable of doing.''

Roy had 26 points and 11 assists in Portland's 116-105 victory over the Nuggets on Sunday, the seventh win of its current streak.

Portland shot 54.5 percent from the floor at Denver on Sunday, compared to shooting just 39.0 percent in its 110-93 loss at the Pepsi Center on Nov. 14. Sunday's win was just the Blazers' second in their last 13 games against the Nuggets

LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 points and seven rebounds for Portland on Wednesday after missing the last five games because of a heel injury. Aldridge is second on the team in scoring (18.5 points per game) and leads the team in rebounds (7.7 rebounds per game).

Portland has won six straight at the Rose Garden during its current run, and is 11-3 at home after going 18-23 last season.

Denver, meanwhile, has lost four of its last five on the road.

The Nuggets (15-10) are coming off a thrilling 112-111 double-overtime victory over Houston on Thursday, their first game since Sunday's loss.

Anthony Carter scored just six points, but hit a 15-foot floater in the lane with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime for the game-winner.

"It was a gutty win,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Both teams hit shots, made some free throws. It was unfortunate somebody had to lose.''

Allen Iverson finished with 36 points on Thursday after scoring 38 on Sunday. Iverson is averaging 33.6 points on 52.6 percent shooting in his last seven games, and averaging 31.0 points in his last five at the Rose Garden.

Carmelo Anthony had 37 points on Thursday after being held to 19 on just 6-of-17 shooting against Portland earlier this week.

Denver has not lost consecutive games to the Blazers since Jan. 28 and Feb. 26, 2003.