Nikola Jokic notched a powerful triple-double, his thirteenth of the season, because the Denver Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113 on Tuesday regardless of a outstanding 44-point efficiency from Damian Lillard.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic completed with 36 factors, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Denver prolonged their profitable streak to seven video games to maneuver one sport away from Memphis on the high of the Western Conference.
It was the seventeenth 30-point triple-double of Jokic’s profession, putting him in illustrious firm alongside Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in seventh on the all-time rankings.
A high-scoring first half noticed Denver take a 73-66 lead, with Lillard maintaining Portland firmly within the hunt with 30 factors within the opening two quarters.
But Denver’s defensive changes within the second half helped them take a agency grip on the competition as they stretched away within the fourth quarter – main by as a lot as 20 factors at one stage – to shut out the win.
“It’s always tough and it’s always interesting against them,” Jokic mentioned afterward. “They’re a superb workforce with a superb coach and Lillard is enjoying superb proper 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 got here from 13-of-14 taking pictures from the sector, together with a near-perfect show from the free-throw line.
The Serb was one in every of 5 Denver gamers in double figures – Michael Porter Jr. added 23 factors and Jamal Murray 17.
Bruce Brown had 12 off the bench whereas Aaron Gordon added 11.
Portland talisman Lillard in the meantime made six-of-12 from three-point vary and was an ideal 14-of-14 from the foul line in his 44-point tally.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, a depleted Brooklyn Nets slumped to a 3rd straight loss in a 106-98 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nets had been lacking Kevin Durant (knee) and Kyrie Irving (calf) by damage, and the absentees proved crucial as Spurs star Keldon Johnson bagged a career-high 36 factors and 11 rebounds.
The victory snapped a five-game shedding streak for San Antonio, who stay one place off the underside of the Western Conference with 14 wins and 31 defeats.
Brooklyn haven’t received a sport since Durant suffered his proper knee damage towards Miami on Jan. 8.
Team effort
While Brooklyn are struggling to rediscover their profitable rhythm with out Durant, Milwaukee as soon as once more shrugged off the lack of their star Giannis Antetokounmpo as they rolled to a 130-122 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo has now missed 4 straight video games for the Bucks, however Jrue Holiday stepped up with a giant efficiency to information the 2021 NBA champions to victory.
Holiday completed with a season-high 37 factors, with six rebounds and 7 assists, as second-placed Milwaukee edged nearer to Boston on the high of the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee trailed 74-67 at halftime however reduce unfastened within the third quarter to successfully seal victory, outscoring Toronto 38-23.
“Definitely a team effort, everybody just played their hearts out and got the win,” Holiday mentioned afterward.
In Tuesday’s different sport, Joel Embiid scored 41 factors because the Philadelphia 76ers overpowered the Los Angeles Clippers 120-110 on the street.
The Sixers stay third within the Eastern Conference standings at 28-16.
