Trail Blazers, Nuggets tied 1-1 heading into game 3

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Denver Nuggets (54-28, second in the Western Conference during the regular season) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (53-29, third in the Western Conference during the regular season)

Portland; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Series tied 1-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Denver Nuggets visit the Portland Trail Blazers for game three of the Western Conference second round with the series tied 1-1. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 97-90. CJ McCollum scored 20 points to lead Portland to the victory and Nikola Jokic scored 16 points in defeat for Denver.

The Trail Blazers are 6-10 against opponents in the Northwest Division. Portland is third in the NBA with 11.8 offensive rebounds per game, led by Enes Kanter averaging 3.7 offensive boards.

The Nuggets have gone 34-18 against Western Conference opponents. Denver is fourth in the NBA scoring 52.2 points in the paint per game, led by Jokic averaging 11.8.

TOP PERFORMERS: Damian Lillard is scoring 25.8 points per game and averaging 4.6 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. McCollum has averaged 17.8 points and added 4.4 rebounds while shooting 37.1 percent over the last 10 games for Portland.

Jokic leads the Nuggets averaging 20.1 points and has added 10.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Jamal Murray has averaged 18.8 points and added 3.4 rebounds while shooting 45.0 percent over the last 10 games for Denver.

DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Nuggets: Averaging 105.2 points, 44.4 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 5.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.7 points on 46.4 percent shooting.

Trail Blazers: Averaging 109.3 points, 44.9 rebounds, 17.9 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.3 points on 43.3 percent shooting.

Trail Blazers Injuries: Maurice Harkless: day to day (ankle), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (leg fracture).

Nuggets Injuries: Torrey Craig: day to day (nose), Michael Porter Jr.: out (back).