Jokic posts triple double as Denver sweeps Golden State
Milwaukee vanquishes 76ers in Rivers’ return to Philadelphia
SAN FRANCISCO — Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists for his third straight triple-double and 18th of the season after his long buzzer-beater against Golden State sealed the last meeting, leading the defending champion Denver Nuggets past the Warriors again in a 119-103 victory Sunday night.
Jokic hit a Stephen Curry-like 40-footer as Denver rallied for a 130-127 win at Chase Center on Jan. 4, then topped Curry and Co. to sweep the four-game season series. On Sunday, Jokic shot 13 for 24 on the way to his 122nd career regular-season triple-double.
Klay Thompson scored 23 points all in the first half and Curry overcame a slow start missing his first seven 3-point tries before finishing with 20 points — all but four scored in the second half. He hit his only 3 with 3:26 left in the third in a 1-for10 performance from deep. The two-time MVP passed both Dwyane Wade (23,165) for 32nd place and Adrian Dantley (23,177) for 31st on the NBA’s scoring list.
Jamal Murray scored 27 points and Aaron Gordon 17 in the Nuggets’ seventh consecutive victory against the Warriors and 10th in 11 and also their fifth in a row on Golden State’s home floor since a 113-102 defeat on March 10, 2022.
SUNS 123, LAKERS 113: In Phoenix, Grayson Allen scored 24 points, Kevin Durant added 22 and Phoenix pulled away late in the fourth quarter to beat Los Angeles.
Allen and Royce O’Neale hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put the Suns up 116-104 with three minutes left. Jusuf Nurkic added 18 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting and also had 12 assists. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 14 rebounds.
BUCKS 119, 76ERS 98: In Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, Damian Lillard added 24 and Milwaukee won in Doc Rivers’ return to Philadelphia.
Rivers was fired by Philadelphia after last season. He coached the 76ers from 2020-23, never getting past the second round of the playoffs, and Sunday was his 12th game since taking over in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo also had 12 rebounds and nine assists. Tyrese Maxey had 24 points for Philadelphia. They have dropped eight of 12 games since losing reigning MVP Joel Embiid to a left knee injury.
THUNDER 123, ROCKETS 110: In Houston, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points and Chet Holmgren added 29 to lead Oklahoma City past Houston.
The Thunder won their fifth straight to moved back into a tie with Minnesota for the Western Conference lead.
Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points apiece for the Rockets in the first of consecutive games between these teams. Alperen Sengun added 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Smith led the team with 17 rebounds.
PACERS 133, MAVERICKS 111: In Indianapolis, Myles Turner scored a season-high 33 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points and 10 assists and Indiana beat Dallas to snap the Mavericks’ seven-game winning streak.
Luka Doncic finished with 33 points, six assists and six rebounds for Dallas. Kyrie Irving added 29 points and six rebounds.
HAWKS 109, MAGIC 92: In Atlanta, Dejounte Murray had 25 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, finishing just short of his first triple-double of the season, and Atlanta beat Orlando to snap a three-game skid.
Murray helped offset the loss of All-Star guard Trae Young, who will undergo surgery on his left hand Tuesday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
CAVALIERS 114, WIZARDS 105: In Washington, Jarrett Allen had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Caris LeVert added 18 points and 12 boards and Cleveland beat Washington to avoid its first three-game skid since December.
Evan Mobley added 21 points and Donovan Mitchell had 16 points in his return after missing the first two games following the All-Star break with an illness.
BULLS 114, PELICANS 106: In New Orleans, Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Chicago beat New Orleans to sweep the season series.
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, including a left wing 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to give the Bulls a 111-106 lead.
JAZZ 128, SPURS 109: In Salt Lake City, Lauri Markkanen scored 26 points and Utah beat San Antonio Spurs to snap a five-game skid.
Jordan Clarkson added 22 points and 10 assists for the Jazz.
HORNETS 93, TRAIL BLAZERS 80:
In Portland, Ore., Nick Richards scored a team-high 21 points with 10 rebounds to lead Charlotte to a road win against Portland.
Despite 26 points from Deandre Ayton, the Hornets held the Trail Blazers to a season-low 80 points. Portland has now lost eight in a row.