Trail Blazers 102, Nuggets 96: Robin Lopez recorded 18 points and nine rebounds as Portland held off visiting Denver to extend its winning streak to five games.

Damian Lillard contributed 17 points and LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in with 16 points and seven boards for the Trail Blazers after returning from a five-game absence due to a groin injury. Nicolas Batum added nine points and a career-high 16 rebounds as Portland had a 52-40 advantage on the boards.

Kenneth Faried registered 16 points and 10 rebounds while Evan Fournier and Randy Foye each scored 16 as Denver dropped its fifth straight contest. Wilson Chandler had 14 points, Darrell Arthur 12 and J.J. Hickson 11 for the Nuggets, who shot 39.8 percent from the field.

The Nuggets scored seven of the first nine points in the final quarter – six by Arthur – to pull within 86-80. Will Barton and Mo Williams drained 3-pointers to highlight an 8-2 run that pushed the lead to 96-84 with just over five minutes left, and the Trail Blazers survived a late rally as Denver got within six before missing two 3-pointers in the final minute.

Lopez had 12 points and Lillard added 11 as Portland led by as much as 11 in the first before settling for a 56-48 advantage at intermission. Denver got as close as five in the third quarter before Lillard responded with two straight baskets and the Trail Blazers built their advantage to 82-71 going into the fourth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Portland completed their first four-game regular-season sweep against Denver since 1996-97. … Denver G Ty Lawson, the team’s leading scorer, missed his ninth straight game with a rib injury. … Portland, which came into the game tied for third in the league in 3-point shooting percentage, was 1-of-10 from behind the arc in the first half and was 5-of-27 in the game.