Associated Press
Denver's last meeting with Portland served as a low point in its abysmal start.
The Nuggets' defense appears to have come a long way since, though that improvement will be tested Tuesday night when they host the Trail Blazers.
Denver (9-8) gave up 116.5 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting in losses during its 1-6 start. That stretch concluded with two losses to the Trail Blazers -- 116-100 on the road on Nov. 9, followed by a 130-113 home setback three days later.
Portland (13-4) was 32 of 64 from 3-point range in those contests and led by as many as 36 in the second. Its 84 first-half points in that matchup were two shy of the franchise record and the most in a half by any team since Golden State scored 84 in the first half against Toronto on March 25, 2011.
The Trail Blazers have won six in a row in the series -- their longest since taking 10 straight from Jan. 13, 1996-Feb. 15, 1998.
"It's not easy for them to see us play like that," Denver's Danilo Gallinari said after his team was booed by its own fans. "I understand them. Hopefully we can turn those boos into applause the next game."
Denver has gone 8-2 since while giving up 101.1 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting.
The Nuggets won 103-101 at Utah on Monday, holding the Jazz to 43 first-half points. Ty Lawson had 15 points and 12 assists and put his team ahead on a double-pump shot with 29.6 seconds left
"It's nice to finally have some breaks go our way," coach Brian Shaw said.
Lawson, who is averaging a career-high 10.1 assists, scored a season-high 32 points and was 4 of 5 from 3-point range in the last meeting with Portland. He has averaged 22.3 points on 53.2 percent shooting in his last four home games against the Trail Blazers.
Arron Afflalo was ejected for a flagrant-two foul Monday for clotheslining Alec Burks at the rim midway through the fourth quarter.
"I wasn't trying to be a tough guy," Afflalo said. "I'm anticipating getting to play (Tuesday). We'll see. Hopefully, they make the right call. But I do apologize for that, though, that hard foul."
Afflalo has helped key Denver's turnaround, averaging 17.8 points on 50.0 percent shooting in his last 10 games. He scored 9.9 points per game while shooting 37.9 percent during the 1-6 start.
Portland may have been suffering from a hangover after its disappointing setback Friday against Memphis, looking sluggish at times in a 107-93 victory over injury-decimated Minnesota on Sunday. The Trail Blazers' 18 turnovers were one shy of a season high.
Still, Portland has won 10 of 11 and now seek a fifth consecutive road win.
"In the end it looked like a good game, but it was a struggle for most of the night as far as just kind of getting into a rhythm," coach Terry Stotts said.
LaMarcus Aldridge was more efficient, scoring 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting after shooting 36.8 percent or worse in three of his past four games.
Damian Lillard, who was 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the last matchup, has averaged 26.5 points while going 16 for 31 from deep in his last four games at Denver.
The Trail Blazers are averaging 110.8 points during their four-game road winning streak.