Blazers' Collapse vs. Nuggets Delivers Brutal Blow in Playoff Seeding Battle

Portland squandered a 16-point fourth quarter lead, despite setting a franchise record for 3-pointers made.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:13pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp overlapping planes of red, black, white, blue, and yellow colors representing the Blazers and Nuggets uniforms.The Blazers' heartbreaking collapse against the Nuggets exposed the high-stakes tension of the NBA playoff race.Los Angeles Today

The Portland Trail Blazers suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, blowing a 16-point fourth quarter lead despite setting a franchise record with 25 made 3-pointers. The defeat leaves the Blazers clinging to the 9th seed in the Western Conference playoff race, a half-game behind the 8th place Los Angeles Clippers.

Why it matters

This loss was a major missed opportunity for the Blazers to move up in the standings and avoid the play-in tournament. The race for the final playoff spots in the West is extremely tight, and the Blazers now face an uphill battle to secure a guaranteed playoff berth.

The details

The Blazers led the Nuggets by 16 points in the fourth quarter, but collapsed down the stretch and ultimately lost in overtime 137-132. Despite their historic 3-point shooting performance, the Blazers were unable to hold onto the lead and now remain in 9th place in the West, a half-game behind the Clippers for the 8th seed.

  • The Blazers' loss to the Nuggets occurred on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • The Blazers' next game is against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, April 9, 2026 at 9:30 pm ET.

The players

Portland Trail Blazers

An NBA team based in Portland, Oregon that is currently fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Denver Nuggets

An NBA team based in Denver, Colorado that defeated the Blazers in overtime on Monday night.

Los Angeles Clippers

An NBA team based in Los Angeles, California that currently holds the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoff race, a half-game ahead of the Blazers.

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What they’re saying

“This was a tough one to swallow. We had them on the ropes and just couldn't finish it off. We've got to regroup and get ready for the Spurs on Wednesday.”

— Damian Lillard, Blazers Point Guard

What’s next

The Blazers will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they take on the Spurs in San Antonio. A win would be crucial to keep pace in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

The takeaway

The Blazers' collapse against the Nuggets was a brutal blow to their playoff positioning, but they still control their own destiny with a key matchup against the Clippers remaining. How they respond in the coming games will be crucial in determining whether they can avoid the play-in tournament.