The Denver Nuggets recorded their third home victory in as many games by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 119–115 at the Ball Arena.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic set a career-high with 27 rebounds along with 40 points and 10 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season, becoming the first player to do so since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.
The Nuggets led by three points after the first two quarters before making it fourteen in the third quarter thanks to Jokic’s eleven points.
The Hornets rallied in the fourth to reduce the deficit to just two points, but the Serbian made a timely assist to Brown for a corner three before hitting a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining.
Hornets guard LaMelo Ball finished the game with 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range.
Gordon Hayward had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds in his second game back from injury, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 16 points from the bench in the Hornets’ eighth straight loss.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (20 points), Bruce Brown (16 points), and Aaron Gordon (19 points and 10 rebounds) were all vital in the Nuggets’ eighteenth win of the season.
In the absence of superstar Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak with a 126–100 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena.
Jordan Poole ended the game with a career high of 43 points along with six assists, scoring 10 of his 11 free throws and five of his eleven from the 3-point line.
Draymond Green scored the Warriors’ first nine points and ended the game with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Klay Thompson also had 17 points in his first return to Toronto since Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, while Kevon Looney secured his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
In a frustrating match, Pascal Siakam (27 points) and Fred VanVleet (22 points) were the leading duo for the Raptors as they lost their fifth straight game.
At the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the Detroit Pistons lost 124–121 to the Brooklyn Nets.
Kevin Durant was in hot form with 43 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks to pass John Havilcek and Paul Pierce on the NBA All-Time Scoring Chart.
He scored a career high of 26 points in the third quarter to lead the Nets’ comeback after a 17-point deficit, outscoring the entire Pistons team, which had 25 in that quarter.
Bojan Bogdanović scored 26 points while rookie Jaden Ivey ended the game with 19 points for the Pistons, but Kylie Irving added 38 points and six rebounds as the Nets continued their brilliant run of form with six straight wins.
Devin Booker led a remarkable comeback win for the Phoenix Suns in a 118-114 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Booker made 21 of his 35 shot attempts, scored six of twelve from beyond the 3-point arc, and 10 of 13 from the free throw line to end the game with 58 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, his second 50-plus point game this season.
The Suns overturned a 24-point deficit to win their first game against the Pelicans this season after two previous losses.
Zion Williamson (30 points) and CJ McCollum (27 points) combined for 57 points, which were insufficient for the Pelicans to snap a three-game losing streak.
Other Results
Los Angeles Lakers 119 – 117 Washington Wizards
Minnesota Timberwolves 150 – 126 Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers 106 – 109 New York Knicks
Boston Celtics 92 – 95 Orlando Magic
Cleveland Cavaliers 100 – 99 Dallas Mavericks
Milwaukee Bucks 123 – 97 Utah Jazz
OKC Thunders 115 – 119 Memphis Grizzlies
Houston Rockets 95 – 107 Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs 101 – 111 Miami Heat
