Nikola Jokic bagged his 13th triple-double of the season on Tuesday as the Denver Nuggets overcame a 44-point display from Damian Lillard to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Denver extended their winning streak to seven games to move one game clear of the Memphis Grizzlies at the top of the Western Conference.
It was the 17th 30-point triple-double of Jokic’s career, placing him in illustrious company alongside Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in seventh on the all-time rankings.
Photo: AP
A high-scoring first half saw Denver take a 73-66 lead, with Lillard keeping Portland firmly in the hunt with 30 points in the opening two quarters.
However, Denver’s defensive adjustments in the second half helped them take a firm grip on the contest as they stretched away in the fourth quarter — leading by as much as 20 points at one stage — to close out the win.
“It’s always tough and it’s always interesting against them,” Jokic said. “They’re a good team with a good coach, and Lillard is playing amazing right now, but I think in the second half we played really good defense ... and that’s why we won the game.”
Jokic’s 36-point haul came from 13-of-14 shooting from the field, including a near-perfect display from the free-throw line.
The Serb was one of five Denver players who scored double figures — Michael Porter Jr added 23 points and Jamal Murray 17. Bruce Brown had 12 off the bench, while Aaron Gordon added 11.
Meanwhile, Portland talisman Lillard made 6-of-12 from three-point range and was a perfect 14-of-14 from the foul line in his 44-point tally.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, a depleted Brooklyn Nets slumped to a third straight loss in a 106-98 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nets were missing Kevin Durant to a knee injury and Kyrie Irving to a calf injury.
The absentees proved critical as Spurs star Keldon Johnson bagged a career-high 36 points and 11 rebounds.
The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for San Antonio, who remain one place off the bottom of the Western Conference with 14 wins and 31 defeats.
Brooklyn have not won a game since Durant hurt his right knee against the Miami Heat on Jan. 8.
While Brooklyn are struggling to rediscover their winning rhythm without Durant, the Milwaukee Bucks once again shrugged off the loss of their star Giannis Antetokounmpo as they rolled to a 130-122 win over the Toronto Raptors.
In Tuesday’s other game, Joel Embiid scored 41 points as the Philadelphia 76ers overpowered the Los Angeles Clippers 120-110 on the road. The Sixers remain third in the Eastern Conference standings at 28-16.
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