Jokic’s 24 powers Nuggets in return
The Miami Heat said 19,600 fans attended their home game Monday night.
At least two of them left happy. Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic — with his two brothers behind the Denver bench — returned and scored 24 points, Aaron Gordon added 20 and the Nuggets snapped their longest losing streak in nearly six years by beating the short-handed Heat 120-111 on Monday night.
“It feels outstanding to get a win and it feels outstanding to get a couple of our guys who have been out back in the lineup,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
Bones Hyland returned from injury to score 19 and Will Barton added 14 for the Nuggets, who had dropped six straight. Jokic hadn’t played in the last four of those because of a wrist injury but finished
with 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Bulls 133, Hornets 119: Lonzo Ball and the Bulls won the battle of the Ball brothers, riding a stellar performance by Nikola Vucevic to a victory over Lamelo Ball and Charlotte. Chicago shot a season-high 59.6 percent from the field and had five players score in double figures.
Rockets 102, Thunder 89: Christian Wood had 24 points and a career-high 21 rebounds as the Rockets won their third straight game in a victory over the struggling Thunder. Kevin Porter Jr. contributed a triple-double of 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Houston.
Timberwolves 100, Pacers 98: Karlanthony Towns scored 16 of his 32 points in the third quarter and Anthony Edwards added 21 as the Timberwolves rallied.
76ers 101, Magic 96: Seth Curry scored 24 points, Tobias Harris had 17 and Philadelphia needed free throws in the final minute to beat the four-win Magic.
Note: Joe Harris had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle Monday, leaving the Brooklyn Nets without one of the NBA’S best 3-point shooters. Harris was hurt Nov. 14 at Oklahoma City and has missed the past six games. The procedure in New York was to remove a loose body in his ankle.