Jokic triple-double lifts Nuggets past Blazers, moves Denver into West’s No. 3 seed
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DENVER — Nikola Jokic recorded 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, and the Denver Nuggets erased a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime on Monday night.
The victory, Denver’s season-best ninth in a row, pushed the Nuggets to 51-28 and into third place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28). The winning streak matches the longest of the Jokic era, according to ESPN Research.
Jokic logged his 33rd triple-double of the season, while Jamal Murray added 20 points, including seven in the extra period. Aaron Gordon scored 23 and knocked down two pivotal baskets late in regulation.
Blazers’ long-range barrage falls short
Portland (40-39) hit a franchise-record 25 three-pointers and got 30 points from Toumani Camara, who made eight of them. Deni Avdija supplied 26 points and went 13-for-14 at the line as the Trail Blazers built a 115-99 advantage with 8:13 remaining.
Denver answered with a 21-5 surge, capped by Gordon’s corner three that tied the score at 123-all with 1:12 left in regulation. After Gordon’s baseline jumper gave the Nuggets a brief lead, Avdija’s layup forced overtime when Jokic missed at the buzzer.
Overtime belongs to Denver
Gordon and Murray opened OT with back-to-back threes, Murray later added two free throws and a dunk for a 135-128 cushion, and the guard fed Jokic for a layup that put the game out of reach.
Playoff implications
Denver does not own the tiebreaker against the Lakers and must finish one game ahead to secure the No. 3 seed. The Nuggets close the regular season against the Grizzlies, Thunder and Spurs, while Los Angeles faces the Thunder, Warriors, Suns and Jazz.
Portland’s loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped the Trail Blazers to ninth in the West, a half-game behind the LA Clippers.
Source: ESPN
