Nuggets 124, Nets 104
76ers 119, Bulls 108
Wolves 118, Pistons 105
Cavaliers 98, Pacers 85
Celtics 116, Magic 83
Mavericks 103, Hawks 94
Pelicans 120, Rockets 107
Bucks 137, Clippers 113
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic delivered his season-best 14th triple double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday to lead Denver over Brooklyn 124-104.
The 26-year-old Serbian center also sparked a defensive effort from the Nuggets that kept the Nets to a season-low 29 second-half points as Brooklyn’s road losing streak reached eight games.
“In the second half, we knew we had to step up on defense because that is how we would win the game,” Jokic said.
The Nuggets led 76-75 at halftime then dominated from there, Jokic hitting 12-of-15 from the floor while adding two steals and a blocked shot.
Jokic said the triple doubles come naturally in the flow of the games.
“I’m just trying to play a game,” Jokic said. “When I pass, I pass to the right guy to make a basketball play. It doesn’t matter if I get 15, 20 shots. I share the ball and when bodies are moving we’re hard to guard and tonight was a night like that.”
Barton contributed 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Nuggets, sixth in the Western Conference at 29-24, snapped a three-game losing skid.
The Nuggets have struggled with injuries to standouts Michael Porter and Jamal Murray but Barton said Jokic has helped pick up the slack.
“He’s the best player in the league right now. He can do it all, pass it, score it in the post, shoot threes. And I think he has stepped it up defensively this year and also being a vocal leader for us.”
The Nets, who fell to 29-24, were led by 27 points from Kyrie Irving, who cannot play in home games under New York Covid-19 rules because he is not vaccinated.
Brooklyn has also been hampered by injuries to stars Kevin Durant and James Harden.
– Embiid nets 40 in win –
Joel Embiid scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Philadelphia 76ers over the host Chicago Bulls 119-108. It was the seventh time this season Embiid had reached the 40-point mark.
DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 45 points in a losing cause for the Bulls, who were without Zach LaVine for a second straight game due to back tightness.
The Bulls fell to 33-20, just behind Miami (34-20) for the best record in the Eastern Conference while the Sixers improved to 32-21 for fourth.
As a result of Chicago’s loss, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was named the coach of Team Durant in the NBA All-Star Game on February 20 in Cleveland.
His squad will face a team captained by former Cleveland star LeBron James and coached by Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns.
Minnesota had 24 points and 12 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns, 22 points from D’Angelo Russell and 20 off the bench from Malik Beasley in a 118-105 victory over visiting Detroit.
