Nikola Jokic produced a triple-double and provided some crucial offense in the final minute and the Denver Nuggets scored the game’s final seven points for a 107-104 victory against the host Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
To record his 22nd triple-double this season, Jokic racked up 28 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds as the Nuggets won for the second straight night.
Christian Braun’s 24 points, Jamal Murray’s 20 and Michael Porter Jr.’s 15 boosted the Nuggets, who squandered a 17-point lead and scored only 17 points in the fourth quarter.
A good chunk of Denver’s late offense came during the last minute of the contest.
Miles Bridges poured in 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Mark Williams notched 20 points and 15 rebounds, but the Hornets were stuck with their fourth straight loss.
Williams was back after a two-game absence and gave the Hornets a much-needed interior presence. Nick Smith Jr.’s 19 points and Moussa Diabate’s 12 points off the bench gave Charlotte a chance to take down Denver.
Bridges scored back-to-back baskets to give the Hornets a 104-100 lead with 51.6 seconds to play.
Jokic’s three-point play pulled the Nuggets within one, and the big man’s two free throws soon gave Denver the lead. Murray’s basket stretched Denver’s edge to 107-104 with eight seconds left before Smith was unable to connect on a potential game-tying 3-point attempt.
Even though Jokic came away with a triple-double, the outcome was still in doubt. The Hornets pulled even at 94-all, 98-all and 100-all down the stretch.
The Nuggets appeared ready to run away with the game earlier in the second half.
Murray scored seven points in 46 seconds as part of the constant offensive pressure applied by the Nuggets in the third quarter. At the 5:45 mark of the frame, Murray’s 3-pointer stretched the gap to 76-61 in favor of Denver.
Charlotte rallied to get within 83-75. Diabate scored six points in the last 2:11 of the third.
The Nuggets couldn’t put the Hornets away, as Bridges’ drive and layup cut the Charlotte deficit to 92-87 about 3 1/2 minutes into the fourth.
Denver finished 3-for-18 on 3-pointers in the first half but led 54-46 at the break.
–Field Level Media
