Jokic scores 27 in 3 quarters, Nuggets coast past Thunder

Nuggets 119 Thunder 101 DEN: 7-7 OKC: 6-7

DENVER – Nikola Jokic had 27 points and 12 rebounds before calling it an early night as the Denver Nuggets routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-101 on Tuesday.

Clean shaven and sporting a new buzz cut, Jokic also had six assists before taking a seat on the bench with the other starters for the fourth quarter.

Reserve Monte Morris added 15 points and Paul Millsap finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Nuggets have won six straight over the Thunder at home.

Luguentz Dort kept the Thunder close early by scoring 15 of his 20 points in the first half.

The Nuggets began to pull away in the second quarter and stretched it to 26 in the third before Jokic and his fellow starters became spectators.

It was a much-needed confidence boost for the struggling Nuggets (7-7), who advanced to the Western Conference finals inside the NBA bubble last

season. So much so that former Nuggets coach George Karl posted on social media leading up to the game: “It’s early in the season to say this but the Nuggets game against the Thunder is a ‘must win’ for Denver.”

Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo had the highlight play of the first half, throwing a backward, between-the-legs pass to Morris for a layup.

The Thunder played for the first time since an OT win over Chicago last Friday. Their game against Philadelphia on Sunday was postponed because the 76ers did not have the league-required eight available players to proceed because of contact tracing.

Thunder: G Ty Jerome remains in Oklahoma City to rehab a sore ankle . ... The Thunder are 5-2 on the road this season and 1-5 at home. ... G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 points and seven assists.

Nuggets: F Greg Whittington had knee surgery Tuesday. He will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. ... F Will Barton had 13 points and six assists . ... Denver outscored Oklahoma City in second-chance points 32-3.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Friday and again on Sunday.

Nuggets: Begin a fivegame trip by playing in Phoenix on Friday and Saturday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER NUGGETS CENTER NIKOLA JOKIC (left) hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Roby (center) and guard George Hill in the first half of a game on Tuesday in Denver.