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By Andy Popp

GAME 56: Blazers (32-25) vs Denver Nuggets (32-25)
February 25, 7:30PM, ESPN
Previous match-up(s):
Thursday, November 18th Portland 86 Denver 83
Tuesday, December 28th Portland 77 Denver 95
Wednesday, February 2nd Portland 90 Denver 109
Related: Blazers Games, Schedule,WIN Tickets

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Technically, this is the third match up between the Blazers and their division rival Denver Nuggets, but, for all intents and purposes, tonight's game is two entirely new teams playing.

The Nuggets just shipped off their marquee player, Carmelo Anthony, to the New York Knicks for 3 serviceable players as well as some draft picks. The Nuggets lost Chauncy Billups and Carmelo Anthony, but gained Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler.

The Nuggets on paper:
Starting five: Kenyon Martin, Daniilo Gallinari, Nene, Arron Afflalo, Ty Lawson
Off the bench: Al Harrington, Chris Anderson, Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Rudy Fernandez will start tonight, Marcus Camby is out.
Gerald Wallace will not play tonight. Joel Pryzbilla still has not taken his physical yet.
They defeated the Boston Celtics 89-75 last night with great rebounding and balanced scoring.

STRATEGY
Without Marcus Camby and Joel Pryzbilla, the Blazers are going to be exceptionally small tonight. They will need to get out and score in transition, as well as do some damage from the three point line in order to win tonight.

LET'S GET RICH
To date: 25-10-2
Blazers -6.5. New look Nuggets vs kinda-new look Blazers. I'll take the Blazers to rebound after their painful OT loss to the Lakers.

TRADE ME
Rudy Fernandez

NUMBER OF BACK TO BACKS THIS SEASON (IN SETS)
14

NEXT 5
vs Atlanta
vs Houston
@ Sacramento
vs Charlotte
@ Orlando

BOTTOM LINE
Huge game tonight. The Blazers need to win tonight to split the season series with the Nuggets. A loss tonight means the Nuggets would win any potential playoff tiebreaker scenarios.