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The Portland Trail Blazers (8-18) are mired in a brutal six-game losing skid as they prepare to host the surging Denver Nuggets (14-10) on Thursday night. Over their last five contests, the Trail Blazers have been dreadful, failing to notch a single victory while averaging just 105.4 points per game. Their offensive struggles have been compounded by a porous defense that has surrendered a whopping 121.8 points per contest during this stretch.
Portland's woes extend well beyond their recent slump, as their overall numbers paint a bleak picture. The team is shooting a dismal 44.2 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three-point range on the season. While their free throw shooting hovers around 78 percent, they've struggled to generate consistent offense, averaging a mere 106.9 points per game. Defensively, the Trail Blazers have been equally disappointing, allowing 116.1 points per contest.
In stark contrast, the visiting Nuggets arrive in Portland riding a three-game winning streak and sporting a 14-10 record. Denver has been a force on both ends, boasting a 119.2 points per game average while limiting opponents to 116.5 points. The Nuggets have been especially potent over their last five games, pouring in 123.6 points per outing while shooting a blistering 52.8 percent from the field.
While Portland has struggled to find consistency, Denver has been a model of steady excellence, particularly on the offensive end. Over their last 20 games, the Nuggets are averaging 120 points per contest while shooting just under 51 percent from the floor and a shade above 38 percent from three-point range. Their balanced attack, fueled by 30.8 assists per game during this stretch, has made them a formidable opponent for any defense.
As the Trail Blazers desperately seek to snap their prolonged skid, they'll need to find answers against a Denver squad that has been firing on all cylinders. With the Nuggets excelling on both ends and Portland scuffling to generate offense and get stops, this matchup could further exacerbate the Trail Blazers' recent woes unless they can summon a dramatic turnaround in performance.