PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers, who had a five-game home winning streak snapped by Boston on Saturday, attempt to start another one Tuesday night when they entertain the struggling Denver Nuggets.

Portland won the first three games of its current six-game homestand but lost to the Celtics on Saturday, 85-81. Rasheed Wallace scored 23 points, but it was not enough as the Trail Blazers failed to defend the perimeter well and allowed the Celtics to connect on 10-of-20 3-point shots.

Bonzi Wells and Detlef Schrempf scored 12 points apiece for Portland, which had won its last three games by more than 20 points per game.

Portland owns the best record in the Western Conference and leads Sacramento by 2 1/2 games in the Pacific Division standings.

Denver has dropped its last two games, including an embarrassing 102-99 home loss to Washington on Sunday. Antonio McDyess scored 29 points and Raef LaFrentz had 17 and 11 rebounds as the Nuggets fell for just the second time in their last 12 home games.

Denver's Nick Van Exel recorded his 16th double-double of the year. He had 16 points and 15 assists, which has lost eight of its last 10 games.

The Nuggets are 1-9 in their last 10 games away from home. They are currently in a tie with Seattle for the ninth best record in the Western Conference and are 3 1/2 games behind Phoenix in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot.

The teams have split their last six meetings, including both games this season. Portland won, 107-91, on November 9 before Denver returned the favor with a 116-96 triumph on December 22.