DENVER -- Nicolas Batum got hot early, Wesley Matthews hit a critical shot when Denver was making a late charge and LaMarcus Aldridge added the finishing touches. . Thats simply the way the Portland Trail Blazers plan to roll this season, a different player stepping up when hes called. Aldridge scored nine of his 25 points late in the fourth quarter to help the Blazers hold off Denver 113-98 on Friday night, spoiling the home debut of Nuggets coach Brian Shaw and snapping their 23-game regular-season home winning streak. "Top to bottom, solid win for us," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Batum was the go-to scorer early, getting all 21 of his points in the first half. Then, Matthews came to the rescue as the Blazers saw a 26-point lead late in the third quarter shrink to 101-94 with 4:57 remaining. Matthews hit a 3-pointer late to give the Blazers some breathing room. And that set the stage for Aldridge, who closed out the victory by hitting jumper after jumper over a steady rotation of Denver defenders. "Its good to have a guy like that who can make those plays and guys can play off of him," said Stotts, whose team got back on track after a season-opening loss in Phoenix. "The way we kept our composure when they made their run is something we should be proud of." That wasnt quiet the case for the Nuggets as they suffered a rare home loss. Although they made a late run, Shaw still called his squads early effort "lacklustre." "Our team looked very tired, just to be honest with you, from the jump," Shaw said. "They just looked winded. They looked like they were the team that played in altitude and we were the team that was coming in on the second night of a back-to-back." Reserve Nate Robinson scored 24 points for Denver, while Ty Lawson added 21. "Came out a little flat in the first half," Robinson said. "We kept the crowd involved by trying to get energy from them." Last season, the Nuggets constantly fed off the crowd noise and were nearly unbeatable at home. The last regular-season loss for Denver was on Jan. 18, against Washington. The team then reeled off 23 straight wins to finish a league-best 38-3 at home. Denver fell at home to Golden State in a first-round playoff game. "We just didnt come out and play," Lawson said. So far, the Nuggets have been slow to grasp the new system of Shaw, who was hired after George Karl was fired following a season in which the team had a franchise-record 57 wins. Shaw said it might take some time for the Nuggets to fully adopt his style, which features more of a half-court offence rather than an up-tempo pace Lawson and the Nuggets grew accustomed to under Karl. "We knew this was going to be a process," Shaw said. "The way were playing I dont think is the problem. Tonight, defence was the problem." Hard to argue. The Nuggets gave up 64 points in the first half and allowed the Blazers to shoot 14 of 22 from beyond the 3-point line. "We didnt play defence and it was just too big of a hole to come back from," Lawson said. Batum scored the Blazers first 10 points of the game. Aldridge got into the act when he hit a jumper midway through the first quarter. The 6-foot-8 Batum stayed hot the rest of the half, scoring 21 points -- including five 3-pointers -- to help the Blazers take a 64-50 lead. "I have to find a balance for creating everybody else and creating my own shot," he said. "Tonight, I tried to score first." The Nuggets have been experimenting at small forward with Wilson Chandler sidelined by a strained left hamstring and Danilo Gallinari out until at least December as he recovers from a torn ACL. Denver has tried Anthony Randolph and even Evan Fournier, whos more of a guard, at the spot. "Just trying to find the right mix," Shaw explained. "I dont think everybody is settled into when exactly theyre going to be coming into the game. It will be that way until we get everybody back in the fold." NOTES: The Blazers open at home on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. Portland has won its last four home openers. ... Matthews finished with 12 rebounds. ... Portland snapped a nine-game slide against Denver at Pepsi Center. ... Shaw said before the game theres no timetable for Chandlers return. ... Nuggets mascot "Rocky" got the wind knocked out of him while performing a pregame stunt. ... Nuggets F Kenneth Faried had 11 points and 11 rebounds. [url=http://www.cheapjerseysmart.us/]wholesale jerseys . Brantley also had a solo home run while Grady Sizemore belted solo shot for the Indians, who extended their home winning streak to 14 games. Its not something that were coming together before the game and saying, Come on guys lets keep the streak going. Cheap Real Madrid Jerseys .S. Open forced the tournament to change its schedule, pushing the mens final to Monday for the fourth consecutive year. http://www.cheapnfljerseysplay.com/[/ur... . In all, some two dozen 2015 planners are poking their heads into every imaginable corner of Mexicos Pan American Games, looking to soak up as much local intel as possible. On this days agenda: a trip to the aquatic centre, and presentations on media and food services. "Our objective is to learn as much as we can about Guadalajara, so we can be in a position to take the good things we learn and roll it forward into our Games," said Ian Troop, CEO of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games organizing committee. [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysbest.us/]cheap jerseys from china . This week they discuss the Fiesta Bowl president, beleaguered Cleveland sports fans, cricket diplomacy and Jays fans reaction to Justin Morneaus return. . The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in the surprising deal. Oklahoma City also sent centre Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston.OTTAWA (CIS) - Swimmers Geneviève Cantin from Laval University and Bryan Fumerton from Dalhousie University are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport female and male athletes of the week for the period ending Oct. 23, 2011. Cantin, a first-year linguistics student from Chicoutimi, Que., was named female athlete of the meet after she racked up four gold medals in as many events at the second University Cup competition of the RSEQ season, held at McGills Memorial Pool. The 20-year-old freshman prevailed in the 50-metre freestyle, 400 free and 100 backstroke individual races and also helped the Rouge et Ors 4x200 free relay to a first-place finish. Cantin had also earned MVP honours two weeks ago following the first university meet of her career. Hockey players Marie-Pier Arsenault of Moncton and Jill Morillo of UOIT, and Lethbridge rugby player Kayla Moleschi were also nominated for the womens award. [url=http://www.thepackersofficialonline.com/Packers-Matt-Flynn-Authentic-Jersey... Flynn Womens Jersey. Fumerton, a fifth-year biochemistry student from Uxbridge, Ont., won gold in all five individual events he entered at the Amby Legere meet hosted by UNB, in Fredericton. The 6-foot-5 senior finished first in the 200 and 400 freestyle, the 200 and 400 medley, and capped his dream weekend by winning the 200 backstroke race with a CIS championship-qualifying time of 2:04.00. His performance helped the Tigers claim the mens team banner as well as the combined team title. McGill swimmer Steven Bielby and Lethbridge hockey player Scott Bowles were the other male nominees. ' ' '