Expect Things to get Heated Between Denver and Portland Next Year

Mar 28, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (1) during the second quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

The rivalry between Denver and Portland has been re energized.

The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers both restored their division rivalry this season. Even before the Jusuf Nurkic trade, the games between these two teams were very competitive.

Despite Portland winning the season series three games to one, this match up got very tense at times this year. The cherry on top was Nurkic running his mouth about the Nuggets after they defeated Denver in their last match up of the year. With that in mind, do not be surprised if things escalate next year when these two teams square off against each other.

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These two teams were already rivals to begin with, now imagine how heated it will now with both teams being competitive forces in the West and with the way things went down this season. Nurkic and Jokic are bound to develop a personal rivalry with each other, which will be a lot of fun to watch.

Not to mention, a Damian Lillard vs Jamal Murray point guard battle may become a key match up to look out for in the future once Murray has progressed a bit more. C.J. McCollum vs Gary Harris could also end up being an intriguing personal rivalry as well. Both teams are teams to keep an eye on in the tough Northwest division and it will be interesting to see how things pan out next season between these two division rivals.

Expect a lot of trash talking, some technical fouls and even a brawl or two to break out when these two play each other next year with the way things went this season.

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Denver is progressing nicely with their young talent and Portland has some nice pieces around McCollum and Lillard, so this rivalry has now became much more intriguing.