Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double with 35 points as the Nuggets made a strong comeback in the second half to beat the undermanned Raptors 125-119 on Monday.
Nikola Jokic delivered an impressive performance to help the Nuggets make a comeback after falling behind by 22 points to the Raptors. The Raptors had a strong start and seemed poised for an upset, but Jokic took charge in the third quarter, scoring 19 points as the Nuggets outscored the Raptors 42-30 to cut the deficit to five points going into the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets continued their dominance in the final quarter, eventually taking the lead and securing the win with a 32-21 fourth-quarter scoreline. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets in scoring, while Jamal Murray contributed 26 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds. Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. also had strong performances with 19 points each. On the Raptors’ side, R.J. Barrett led the scoring with 26 points, supported by Kelly Olynyk who added 24 points.
Boston easily secured their 50th victory of the season with a dominant 121-99 win on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers. Jaylen Brown was the top scorer for the Celtics with 27 points, closely followed by Jayson Tatum who contributed 26 points.
In Cleveland, Kevin Durant scored 37 points and contributed eight rebounds and six assists to help the Phoenix Suns come back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Cavaliers 117-111. Devin Booker also scored 27 points for Phoenix, while Bradley Beal added 24 points to secure a hard-fought win away from home. Darius Garland was the top scorer for Cleveland with 30 points.
In San Antonio, the Golden State Warriors overcame a sluggish beginning to defeat the Spurs 112-102, rebounding from a 126-113 loss to the same team just two days prior. Despite missing Stephen Curry due to injury, Jonathan Kuminga was the top scorer for the Warriors with 22 points, supported by Klay Thompson with 21 points and Chris Paul with 19. On the other side, San Antonio’s rookie Victor Wembanyama from France had an impressive performance, finishing with 27 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
In Chicago, Luka Doncic recorded his 17th triple-double of the season with 27 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks easily defeated the Bulls 127-92. Dereck Lively II contributed 22 points coming off the bench, while Daniel Gafford scored 20 and Kyrie Irving added 14 points. Dallas now holds an 8th place position in the Western standings with a record of 37-28, while Chicago, currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference, dropped to 31-34.
