DENVER (AP) — J.J. Hickson scored 19 points and rookie Emmanuel Mudiay hit two game-sealing free throws with 18.3 seconds remaining, helping the Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 108-104 on Monday night.

Mudiay finished with 18 points and Kenneth Faried added 17 — and drew a key late charge — as the Nuggets ended an eight-game skid to the Trail Blazers.

Hickson came up big down the stretch, hitting four free throws in the final 1:49 to keep the Blazers at bay.

With Denver up 106-104, Mudiay connected two free throws. He then blocked Damian Lillard's layup to close out Denver's first win at home this season.

Lillard led Portland with 30 points. Backcourt mate CJ McCollum had a rough shooting night early, but scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Blazers in the game.

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