Sports

Aldridge returns and the Blazers beat the Nuggets 102-96 for their fifth straight win

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, left, defends against Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) (The Associated Press)

Denver Nuggets coach Brian Shaw calls out from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) (The Associated Press)

Robin Lopez scored 18 points, LaMarcus Aldridge returned from an injury to add 16, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 102-96 on Saturday night to sweep the series for the first time in 15 years.

Nicolas Batum had a career-high 16 rebounds for Portland, which has won its last five games.

Kenneth Faried, Randy Foye and Evan Fournier scored 16 points apiece, but Denver lost its fifth straight. Faried took a hard fall with less than two minutes left and appeared to injure his right knee, but finished out the game.

Portland won all four meetings, its first sweep of the series since the 1999 season, when the Blazers won all three games against the Nuggets.