NBA: Jokic Scores 36 As Nuggets Defeat Trail Blazers
Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic recorded 36 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 13th triple-double of the season as the hosts beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 122-113 for its seventh consecutive win of the NBA season.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points, Jamal Murray contributed 17, Bruce Brown had 12, while Aaron Gordon added 11 points and a season-high eight assists for the Nuggets, who have won 14 straight home games.
Portland’s’ Damian Lillard scored 44 points — the third time in four games he put up 40 or more — for the Trail Blazers, who have lost eight straight road games. Jerami Grant had 18 points, Anfernee Simons added 14 and Shaedon Sharpe finished with 13 for Portland, which had won its previous two contests.
Denver played the game without head coach Michael Malone after he was placed in health and safety protocol on Tuesday morning. Assistant David Adelman served as the acting head coach. Malone is also likely to miss the Nuggets’ Wednesday home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA results
San Antonio Spurs 106 – 98 Brooklyn Nets
Philadelphia 76ers 120 – 110 Los Angeles Clippers
Milwaukee Bucks 130 – 122 Toronto Raptors.
Denver Nuggets 122 – 113 Portland Trail Blazers
MotionStation/Reuters/Chidi Nwoke.
