Jokic’s 28th triple-double lifts Nets
NEW YORK — Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in his 28th tripledouble of the season, Michael Porter Jr. had 28 points and nine rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Brooklyn Nets 108-102 on Sunday.
Jamal Murray scored 20 of his 25 points in the first quarter for the Nuggets, who looked nothing like the slumping team that had dropped five of six. Denver shot 62.5 percent in the first half and led comfortably most of the game while playing for the second straight afternoon.
A 20-point lead after three quarters was cut to 100-93 with 3:44 to play, but Porter answered with one of his five 3-pointers and the Nuggets got the lead back up to 14 before the Nets had a couple more late baskets.
Mikal Bridges scored 23 points and Nic Claxton had 19 for the Nets, who have lost three straight as they try to hold onto a top-six seed and a guaranteed postseason spot in the Eastern Conference.
They pulled out a 122-120 victory in Denver a week earlier, but the Western Conference leaders made sure there would be no repeat.
Thunder 124, Suns 120: Shai Gilgeous-alexander scored 40 points, and Oklahoma City has won four of five as it tries to earn at least a play-in spot. Luguentz Dort added 20 points for the Thunder, who has missed the playoffs the past two seasons. Devin Booker scored 46 points and Chris Paul added 14 points and 13 assists for the Suns.
Spurs 126, Hawks 118: Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell had 29 points each and San Antonio rallied from a 24-point deficit to spoil Dejounte Murray’s homecoming. Murray had 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds in his first game in San Antonio since being traded to Atlanta in the offseason. Zach Collins added 19 points for the Spurs, who snapped a twogame skid. Onyeka Okongwu had 17 points and Clint Capela had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks.
Heat 112, Pistons 100: Tyler Herro scored 10 of his 19 points in the final 3:20 and Miami rallied for a victory over Detroit. Herro’s 3-pointer gave the Heat a 101-98 lead with 3:20 left. After he and Jimmy Butler hit jumpers, Herro made another 3-pointer to put Miami up 108-98. Butler had 26 points and 10 assists and Bam Adebayo added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who won for the third time in four games. James Wiseman led the Pistons with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Killian Hayes put up 13 points and 11 assists. Detroit has lost 14 of its past 15 games.