"The Nuggets' legs weren't completely dead Saturday night, but completing a back-to-back-to-back set didn't come close to translating into a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Playing their third game in three nights, the step-slow Nuggets (15-9) lost their fifth consecutive game at the Rose Garden, this time 117-97.

The snowstorm was in Denver, but it was a blizzard of 3-pointers in Rip City that did in coach George Karl's Nuggets. Portland appeared the much fresher team, even though the Blazers were playing for the third time in four nights.

Blazer backup Nicolas Batum — who probably gets guarded closer in practice — did much of the damage with a career-high 33 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers. Batum left to a standing ovation. The Nuggets were too tired to clap, even if they had wanted to. LaMarcus Aldridge added 29 points for Portland.

"We just ran out of gas," Karl said. "Too much Batum and Aldridge and the 3-ball."

The Nuggets got their obligatory slow start out of the way — they were down 11-3 — before Danilo Gallinari warmed up. But Gallinari would cool down. And he had a lots of company.

The "Rooster" had 12 points in the first quarter (he led Denver with 20) and the Nuggets got eight points from Kosta Koufos, but the fresher Blazers still led 33-26."