Will Barton
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots next to Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A year after Finals, Lakers and Heat set to play before fans

By Tim Reynolds May. 26, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon, left, shoots against Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Stephen Curry, Warriors welcome back fans and beat Nuggets

By Janie Mccauley Apr. 24, 2021 12:32 AM EDT

Philadelphia 76ers center Dwight Howard, left, defends as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic looks to take a shot in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Murray, Porter lead Nuggets past slow-starting 76ers 104-95

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 30, 2021 11:25 PM EDT

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, works against Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Doncic has 21 points, 12 assists, Mavs beat Nuggets 116-103

By Michael Kelly Mar. 14, 2021 01:51 AM EST

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins, left, goes in for a basket as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Trae Young, Clint Capela boost Hawks past Nuggets 123-115

By George Henry Feb. 21, 2021 10:16 PM EST

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and guard Facundo Campazzo, center, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Brown scores 27, Celtics outlast Jokic, Nuggets 112-99

By Kyle Hightower Feb. 16, 2021 09:42 PM EST

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) crashes into Toronto Raptors center Aron Baynes (46) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
More NBA games called off as contact tracing probes continue

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 21, 2021 11:49 AM EST

Denver Nuggets guard PJ Dozier shoots next to Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Durant scores 34, Nets charge back from 18 down, top Nuggets

By Brian Mahoney Jan. 12, 2021 10:10 PM EST

Philadelphia 76ers' Tony Bradley, left, and Paul Reed, right, look on from the bench as they are the only two players on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Denver tops short-handed 76ers hit with virus, injuries

By Dan Gelston Jan. 09, 2021 05:33 PM EST

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, drives to the rim past Sacramento Kings forward Nemanja Bjelica in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Hield tip-in leads Kings to 124-122 overtime win in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 24, 2020 12:05 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2020, file photo, Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, left, dribbles next to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. Westbrook said Monday, July 13, 2020, that he has tested positive for coronavirus, and that he plans to eventually join his team at the restart of the NBA season. Westbrook made the revelation on social media. As recently as Sunday, the Rockets believed that Westbrook and James Harden — neither of whom traveled with the team to Walt Disney World near Orlando last week — would be with the team in the next few days. In Westbrook's case, that now seems most unlikely. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes, File)
Pandemic Basketball begins, with some comforts of home

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 22, 2020 04:09 PM EDT