NBA Roundup: Nikola Jokic powers for 32 as Nuggets thrash Suns
Nikola Jokic scored 32 points, Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 117-90 on Monday night.
Aaron Gordon contributed 12 points and Russell Westbrook scored 11 apiece for the Nuggets, who have won five of their past six games. Denver’s Jalen Pickett posted career highs in points (11) and assists (eight).
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Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal scored 23 points each for Phoenix, which has dropped three in a row.
Denver’s second-leading scorer, Jamal Murray, did not play due to a left ankle sprain sustained in an overtime win at New Orleans on Sunday. The Suns were without Devin Booker (left groin soreness) and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol).
The Nuggets, up by four at halftime, came out strong to start the third quarter. Jokic opened with a 12-footer, and Porter hit from deep. Westbrook soon added a steal and dunk before slamming down an offensive rebound to give Denver a 66-53 lead.
Durant missed a turnaround jumper and fouled Gordon, who made both free throws. Beal scored five straight Phoenix points to try to rally the visitors, but Westbrook made a 3-pointer and later tipped in a Jokic miss to give the Nuggets a 78-63 lead.
Denver kept increasing the margin after a Suns timeout. Gordon hit a 3-pointer, Jokic made a finger roll and Gordon again scored from deep to put the Nuggets ahead 86-63.
Jokic’s floater made it 95-71 late in the third before Phoenix mounted a charge. Royce O’Neale and Durant made 3-pointers and Durant hit a fadeaway to cap an 8-0 run, but Denver closed the quarter strong.
Jokic was fouled while sinking layup with 10.6 seconds left. He missed the free throw, but the Nuggets got the rebound. Jokic fed Hunter Tyson in the corner for a 3-pointer to make it 100-79 heading into the fourth. Denver led by as many as 10 in the second quarter, but the Suns scored 11 straight points to go in front 44-43. The Nuggets responded and took a 55-51 edge into halftime.
Luka Doncic leads Mavs to easy win over Blazers
Luka Doncic paired a game-high 27 points with seven assists and seven rebounds, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 132-108 rout of the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
Daniel Gafford added 23 points off the bench on 7-for-7 shooting while Kyrie Irving scored 20 points for Dallas, which won its second straight game. Klay Thompson had 13 points, and P.J. Washington chipped in 12.
Reserve Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 19 points while Deandre Ayton chipped in 16 points and nine boards. Scoot Henderson had 14 points, and Jabari Walker and Shaedon Sharpe scored 13 apiece. Anfernee Simons posted 10 points and Toumani Camara tallied five points and a team-leading 12 rebounds as Portland fell for the eighth time in its past nine games.
With the Mavericks coming out of the break with a nine-point lead, Doncic and Dereck Lively II opened the third quarter with consecutive layups, starting an 8-3 run. After buckets down low from Simons and Sharpe, the Mavericks pulled away, as Irving scored four points during Dallas’ 7-0 run, and the hosts’ advantage grew to 77-60 with 7:32 left in the third quarter.
