A busy slate around the NBA on Tuesday with nine games on tap. We recap only three of them here:
Nuggets Get Back at Thunder Behind Another Nikola Jokic Masterpiece
Nikola Jokic went 15-for-20 from the field en route to 35 big points to power the Denver Nuggets (42-23) to a 140-127 triumph over the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
Jokic also had 18 rebounds and 8 assists as he dominated OKC’s two seven-footers, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The three-time MVP also made sure there’ll be no fourth quarter collapse for Denver as he and Jamal Murray led a 39-28 windup for former champs. Murray finished with 34 points and 6 assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 25 points for OKC, while Lu Dort added 26 on eight triples. Hartenstein and Holmgren combined for 28 points and 11 rebounds but proved no match for The Joker.
Up next:
Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves on March 13
Thunder vs. Boston Celtics on March 13
Nets Stun LeBron-Less Lakers
The Brooklyn Nets (22-42) nearly beat the Los Angeles Lakers (40-23) the last time they met on back in January. They made sure they got it done this time, upsetting the LeBron James-less Lakers, 111-108, at Barclays Center despite a triple-double from Luka Doncic.
Noah Clowney led the charge for the Nets with 19 points off the bench and punctuated it with a game-sealing and-1 dunk with under 10 remaining. Cam Johnson added 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists and hit a clutch jumper down the stretch. Keon Johnson chipped in 18 as well.
Doncic finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists but was just 8-for-26 from the field. Gabe Vincent provided a spark for the Lakers with 24 points on six triples but went silent in the endgame. Austin Reaves had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists but also struggled shooting.
Up next:
Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on March 12
Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks on March 14
Warriors Frustrate Blazers as Jimmy Butler Gets Triple-Double
Jimmy Butler registered his first triple-double and Step Curry moved on the cusp of history to help the Golden State Warriors to a 130-120 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center.
Butler finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to go along with his 3 steals. Curry, meanwhile, dropped 24 and hit three triples to move to within two more treys for 4,000 in his career. Gary Payon II topscored for the Dubs with 26 off the bench, with Buddy Hield adding 20 of his own. Moses Moody also had 20 in a rare start.
Deni Avdija led all scorers with 34 points on top of his 16 rebounds and 6 assists. Anfernee Simons added 32.
Up next:
Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings on March 14
Trail Blazers vs. New York Knicks on March 13
