BLAZERS BLAST NUGGETS TO EARN HOME COURT ADVANTAGE

The Denver Nuggets knew that they’d already clinched 2^nd place in the Western Conference on Wednesday night before their game with the Portland Trailblazers began.  So, not surprisingly, they competed like a team with nothing to play for as they were obliterated by their hosts who needed the win to lock up home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.   Portland pulled away from Denver in the second quarter and went on to defeat the Nuggets 104-76.

Denver trailed by only one after the first quarter, but the Blazers all but put the game away before the half as they outscored the Nuggets 30-12 in the second quarter.  The Blazers took the opportunity to give their starters an early exit and allow their reserves to put in some valuable minutes.  Travis Outlaw led Portland with 21 points while Rudy Fernandez chipped in for 18.  Channing Frye (12 points) and Greg Oden (10) were the only other Blazers in double figures.

Chauncey Billups paced Denver with 13 points, with Carmello Anthony right behind with 12 points.  Nene and Kenyon Martin scored ten points apiece, as did reserve Linas Kleiza.  Billups stressed the importance of the team’s second place finish in his post game comments:

"It's huge. Our goal this season was to try to get home-court advantage in the playoffs, and we accomplished that."

Portland also finished an excellent regular season, posting their best record since 1999-2000.  They’ve been one of the league’s hottest teams down the stretch and center Joel Przybilla suggested that their momentum bodes well for the postseason: 

"We're peaking at the right time. We're playing our best basketball at the biggest time of the year."

While the Blazers are focused on a long playoff run, Brandon Roy said he’ll enjoy the experience:

"I'm looking at it as a challenge. But it's going to be fun."

The Blazers will host the Houston Rockets at the Rose Garden Arena on Saturday, with game two back on Portland’s home court Tuesday night.  The series moves to Houston the following Friday for the next two games.  Denver will begin their postseason play on Sunday as they host the New Orleans Hornets.  Game two will take place on Tuesday, with New Orleans hosting games three and four beginning on Saturday, April 25^th.