Jokic, Porter keep Denver rolling in win over Knicks
Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to help host Denver hold off New York 113-100 on Thursday. Michael Porter Jr. scored 31 points on 13-for-16 shooting for the Nuggets in their seventh win in eight games and 13th in 15.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points for the Knicks, who had won four in a row. Jamal Murray had 23 points for Denver before limping off with an ankle injury in the final minute.
■ Rockets 127, Bulls 117: At Houston, Findlay Prep product Dillon Brooks scored 23 points on 10-for-13 shooting for Houston before being ejected with 6:02 left in the third quarter, and the Rockets won their seventh straight and ninth in 10 games. Houston was up 84-75 at the time Brooks and
Demar Derozan were tossed for a physical altercation. Ayo Dosunmu led Chicago with 35 points on 13-for-18 shooting.
■ Magic 121, Pelicans 106: At Orlando, Fla., Paolo Banchero missed his first 10 shots but totaled 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Orlando (42-28), which won its fifth in a row and clinched its second winning season in 12 years. Zion Williamson had 20 points, seven rebounds and eight turnovers for New Orleans, which had won seven of its previous eight.
■ Mavericks 113, Jazz 97: At Dallas, Luka Doncic had 34 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Dallas, which won its third straight and seventh in eight games. Utah missed 26 of 30 3-point tries in its fourth straight loss and seventh in eight games.
■ Wizards 109, Kings 102: At Washington, Kyle Kuzma scored 31 points for Washington (12-58), which halted a fivegame skid with its third win in 24 games and improved to 5-28 at home. Sacramento (40-29) had won four of its previous five.
■ Bucks 115, Nets 108: At Milwaukee, Damian Lillard had 30 points, 12 assists and two late steals for Milwaukee, which recovered after blowing an 18-point thirdquarter lead and dealt Brooklyn its fifth straight loss and seventh in eight games.
■ Suns 128, Hawks 115: At Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 27 points for Phoenix, which shot 55.4 percent and handed Atlanta its fifth loss in six games.