The Trail Blazers aren't going to call every game with the Denver Nuggets a showdown. Nor will they say they're now their biggest rival.
"They're in our division, and they're good, but so is Utah," Portland guard Brandon Roy said. "But anytime we play Denver, it's special." The teams tied for the Northwest Division championship last season. Along with Utah, they're expected to vie for the division title again this season.
They'll meet Thursday in Portland with a chance to get a first leg up on the opposition.
Carmelo Anthony is the Nuggets' biggest weapon. Normally, Nicolas Batum would get the defensive call for the Blazers, but he's lost for some time because of a shoulder injury. That means Martell Webster will get the defensive assignment Thursday.
TRAIL BLAZERS 96, ROCKETS 87: Portland had runs of 11-0 and 9-0 in a 31-point second quarter that keyed the victory. The Blazers had 26 turnovers -- three more than the most they committed in a game all last season -- but held Houston to .370 shooting, owned the backboards (51-33), blocked 12 shots and shot superbly from 3-point range (.476) and free-throw line (.909).
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