Final Up to date: February 14, 2023, 11:52 IST
Nuggets held on to benefit lead for majority of the second half. (AP Photograph)
Nikola Jokic scored 27 factors as Denver Nuggets defeated Miami Warmth
Nikola Jokic narrowly missed out on his twenty first triple double of the season because the Denver Nuggets battled to a 112-108 street victory over the Miami Warmth on Monday.
Two-time NBA MVP Jokic completed with 27 factors, 12 rebounds and eight assists as Denver stretched their lead on the prime of the Western Convention to 5 video games.
Denver, who improved to 40-18, trailed by 9 factors after a shaky first quarter however roared again within the second to outscore Miami 38-26 for a slender 65-62 lead on the break.
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The Nuggets held on to benefit lead for a lot of the second half and though Miami obtained inside three factors within the last minute, Denver held on for victory.
Whereas Jokic led the scoring, Denver’s balanced offense unfold the factors round with seven gamers ending in double figures and sharing 34 assists between them.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 17 factors whereas Bruce Brown had 16.
“I feel we wish to play for one another,” Jokic mentioned afterwards. “We attempt to discover open guys and we’re simply going to work for the very best shot attainable.
“The crew buys into that and that’s why I feel we’ve got so many assists,” the Serbian star mentioned.
Jimmy Butler led Miami’s scorers with 24 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists whereas Max Strus had 23 factors and Bam Adebayo 19.
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Elsewhere on Monday, Donovan Mitchell erupted for 41 factors because the Cleveland Cavaliers bagged their seventh straight win with a gritty 117-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Mitchell’s sixth 40-point recreation of the season helped the Cavs tighten their grip on fourth place within the Jap Convention.
Cleveland are actually 38-22 for the season, main fifth-placed Brooklyn, who have been thumped 124-106 by the New York Knicks earlier Monday.
Jarrett Allen (17 factors) and Darius Garland (16) have been Cleveland’s different principal scorers whereas Keldon Johnson led the scoring for San Antonio with 25 factors.
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“The largest factor is simply persevering with to combat,” Mitchell mentioned afterwards. “We didn’t play our greatest basketball, no matter how San Antonio’s been enjoying, they made it robust on us.
“You’ve obtained to provide the credit score for his or her efficiency however on the finish of the day we discovered a technique to execute and that’s huge time.”
Cleveland will now look forward to their last recreation earlier than this weekend’s All-Star break, with a street conflict towards Jap Convention rivals Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Mitchell believes the 76ers may have added motivation after the Philadelphia Eagles’ Tremendous Bowl defeat to Kansas Metropolis on Sunday.
“That’s going to be a playoff recreation in a hostile setting,” Mitchell mentioned.
“They only misplaced the Tremendous Bowl in order that they’ll most likely be a little bit bit fired up over there.
“We’ve obtained to go on the market and maintain our personal and play the basketball we’ve been enjoying.”
The Sixers in the meantime warmed up for his or her date with the Cavs with a 123-104 blowout over the Houston Rockets earlier Monday.
James Harden led the Sixers scoring towards his former membership with 28 factors and 10 assists whereas Tyrese Maxey impressed with 26 factors off the bench after making 4-of-8 from past the arc.
Sixers talisman Joel Embiid added 23 factors whereas Jalen Inexperienced led the Rockets with 29 factors.
The Sixers are only one recreation forward of the in-form Cavaliers heading into Wednesday’s recreation.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)