DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 34 points, Nikola Jokic finished an assist shy of his 26th triple-double of the season, and the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to nine games by holding off the depleted Charlotte Hornets 129-115 on Thursday night.
Jokic finished with 29 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists. He attempted a career-high 14 3-pointers and made six. Murray picked right up where he left off before the All-Star break when he erupted for 55 points. Against Charlotte, Murray was 12 of 18 from the floor, including seven 3-pointers. A 17 1/2-point favorite, the Nuggets didn't put away the Hornets until a late spurt. The win, coupled with a loss by Memphis, moved the Nuggets to second place in the Western Conference.
Miles Bridges had a season-high 36 points to go with 13 rebounds for the Hornets, who were missing LaMelo Ball (ankle management) and Mark Williams (return to competition reconditioning). Charlotte was playing on the second night of back-to-back games after beating the Lakers 100-97 in Los Angeles.
It was a game rescheduled from January due to the devastating wildfires in Southern California. The Hornets tied Denver with fast-break points (15-15) and points in the paint (52-52), areas where the Nuggets typically excel.
Russell Westbrook (hamstring), Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring), and Aaron Gordon (calf) all returned to the court Thursday. Gordon contributed 18 points, and Porter grabbed 11 rebounds, helping the Nuggets maintain their winning form.
Julian Strawther hit a pair of 3-pointers to fuel a 13-2 run early in the fourth quarter, helping the Nuggets gain some separation from the Hornets. This key run allowed Denver to secure the victory and push their win streak to nine games.
Looking forward, both teams will play again on Saturday. The Nuggets will host LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers, who are always a formidable opponent, adding to the stakes for the Nuggets as they look to continue climbing the standings.