Nikola Jokic strikes once more as Nuggets get rid of Hawks

Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Jamal Murray (27) discuss within the third quarter in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks of an NBA sport at Ball Area. Necessary Credit score: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Pictures

Nikola Jokic had 23 factors, 17 rebounds and 15 assists for his 14th triple-double of the season and third in 4 video games, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Atlanta Hawks 139-120 within the NBA on Wednesday night time.

The 15 assists have been one shy of his season excessive of 16, which he has completed twice.

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READ: NBA: Pair of triple-doubles lead Nuggets previous Jazz

Russell Westbrook had 16 factors and 11 assists and Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray contributed 21 factors every for the Nuggets, who’ve topped 130 factors in 4 straight video games.

Denver, which had a season-high 44 assists, swept the 2 video games of the season sequence. The Nuggets gained 141-111 in Atlanta on Dec. 8.

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Jokić’s triple-double for the Nuggets was so environment friendly, it was DIZZYING 😵‍💫

🃏 23 PTS
🃏 17 REB
🃏 15 AST
🃏 IN 29 MINUTES

It is the FIRST sport of 20+p, 15+r, & 15+a in underneath 30 MIN in NBA HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/Aw1KrpVFhp

— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2025

Trae Younger led the Hawks with 30 factors and 9 assists, De’Andre Hunter scored 20 factors, Vit Krejci added 14 factors, Zaccharie Risacher completed with 13 and David Roddy 10 factors.

The Nuggets scored 40 factors within the first quarter however couldn’t shake Atlanta, which rallied from down 9 early within the second quarter to steer 62-57 with 4:53 left within the interval. Denver responded to take a 74-71 lead at halftime.

READ: NBA: Nuggets use star energy to sort out Pistons

Jokic practically had a triple-double at intermission with 13 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

The Nuggets took management with a dominant third quarter. Porter and Murray hit from 3-point vary and Westbrook made a driving layup to shortly prolong the result in 84-75 within the first three minutes. The Hawks answered with two buckets, however then Denver put it away.

Christian Braun, who had 15 factors, transformed a three-point play, Murray made a technical free throw and Porter hit one other 3-pointer to make it 91-79, forcing an Atlanta timeout. It didn’t cease the Nuggets, who continued their 18-3 run that gave them a 20-point lead.

Jokic scored eight factors within the closing 3:48 and completed his night time when he fed Peyton Watson for a layup for his fifteenth help of the night time. Watson scored 11 factors. –Discipline Degree Media