The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a remarkable late-game comeback to edge out the Denver Nuggets 109 – 107 in their NBA In-Season Cup match on Friday night.
With the timepiece winding down and the game tied, Jerami Grant calmly sank two free throws with 1.4 seconds left, transferring the Moda Center crowd into a delirium and sealing a vital palm for Portland.
The Nuggets had looked in control for the most part of the night, leading by ten heading into the final quarter.
But as Portland tensed up defensively, the instigation began to swing, and the home suckers tasted commodity special brewing.
Blazers Turn the Tide
Denver entered the final frame up 81–71, yet the Blazers refused to fold. With 27.7 seconds remaining, Denver led 107–105, before Grant again came through, drawing contact and coolly converting both from the line to level it up.
The next sequence was pure chaos. A climb possession for Denver ended when Shaedon Sharpe produced a sensational block on Aaron Gordon’s muumuu.
The timepiece expired before Denver could get a shot out, giving Portland one last chance with three seconds left.
A foul on Gordon sent Grant back to the stripe. Two perfect releases later, Portland was in front for the first time since the third quarter.
“He’s been practicing those under pressure,” said head coach Chauncey Billups, smiling after the win.
Denver’s Nikola Jokić had a final attempt to catch palm, but his 13- bottom muumuu rimmed out as time expired.
Despite the loss, Nikola Jokić continued his MVP-quality form. The Serbian center posted 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, falling just shy of a fifth straight triadic-double to start the season.
He remains tied with Oscar Robertson (1961–62) and Russell Westbrook (2020–21) for the most consecutive triple-doubles to open an NBA season.
Avdija, Blazers’ Young Core Steps Up
For the Blazers, Deni Avdija led all scorers with 23 points, while Sharpe added 19 and Grant chipped in 16 off the bench. The trio’s combined energy proved decisive down the stretch, handing Portland their third consecutive win.
BLAZERS BEAT THE NUGGETS IN A THRILLER
Jokic was so close pic.twitter.com/LhCq78sLAP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 1, 2025
Meanwhile, Jamal Murray, questionable before tip-off due to left calf soreness, managed 22 points for Denver, keeping them competitive until the closing seconds. The loss snapped the Nuggets’ three-game winning streak.
Denver dominated early, racing to a 30–18 advantage as Murray attacked the rim with confidence. Avdija’s slick layup tied the game at 41–41, but Denver went into the half up 57–53.
Portland briefly took the lead in the third through Kris Murray’s layup, only for Denver to respond with a 9–0 run to end the period up by ten. But the Blazers’ intensity surged in the fourth, capped by Grant’s ice-cold composure from the stripe.
A shot-clock malfunction late in the first quarter caused a brief delay, an oddly fitting preview of the chaotic finish to come.
Next Games
The Denver Nuggets return home to face the Sacramento Kings on Monday, while the Portland Trail Blazers remain at the Moda Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Trail Blazers vs Nuggets clash was everything an NBA Cup nature should be: fierce, changeable, and full of drama.
Portland’s youthful core showed maturity beyond its time, while Denver’s titleholders learned that no lead is safe in the City of Roses.
