Nuggets Rally Past Blazers in OT, Reclaim West's No. 3 Seed

Denver overcomes 16-point deficit to move past Lakers in standings with playoffs approaching

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the intense action of an NBA overtime game, with players, the basketball, and the court rendered in sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.The Nuggets' dramatic comeback win over the Blazers keeps them in position to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets overcame a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime, reclaiming the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings. The Nuggets trailed for much of the game but stormed back with a 26-8 run late in the fourth quarter, tying the game on an Aaron Gordon 3-pointer. Denver then dominated the overtime period to secure the victory and move past the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings with just a few games remaining before the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Nuggets' win over the Blazers was crucial in their battle with the Lakers for the West's No. 3 seed, which comes with home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Denver and LA entered the night tied in the standings, but the Nuggets' victory gives them the upper hand as the regular season winds down.

The details

Despite struggling from 3-point range for most of the night, the Nuggets rallied in the fourth quarter, sparked by a game-tying triple from Aaron Gordon with just over a minute left in regulation. Gordon then hit another jumper to give Denver the lead, but the Blazers forced overtime on a late bucket. In the extra period, Gordon and Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to victory, outscoring Portland 15-8. Jokic finished with a triple-double of 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.

  • The Nuggets entered Monday's game tied with the Lakers for third place in the Western Conference standings.
  • Denver trailed by 16 points with 8:30 remaining in the fourth quarter before rallying to force overtime.
  • Aaron Gordon hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 1:13 left in regulation.
  • The Nuggets outscored the Blazers 15-8 in overtime to secure the victory.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets' star center finished with a triple-double of 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, overcoming six turnovers to lead Denver's comeback.

Aaron Gordon

The Nuggets forward scored 23 points, including the game-tying 3-pointer late in regulation and a key bucket in overtime to help Denver secure the victory.

Deni Avdija

The Trail Blazers guard scored the game-tying layup at the end of regulation to force overtime.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just kept fighting. We knew we had to chip away at that lead and we did. This was a big win for us.”

— Aaron Gordon, Nuggets Forward

“Nikola is just an incredible player. Even when he's not shooting well, he finds a way to impact the game and will us to victory.”

— Michael Malone, Nuggets Head Coach

What’s next

The Nuggets will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games when they host the Grizzlies on Wednesday. A win would further solidify their hold on the No. 3 seed in the West with just a few games remaining before the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Nuggets' thrilling comeback victory over the Blazers showcased their resilience and ability to win close games, a valuable trait as they jockey for playoff position in the crowded Western Conference. Nikola Jokic's leadership and Aaron Gordon's timely scoring were critical in Denver overcoming a large fourth-quarter deficit to move past the Lakers in the standings.