Nikola Jokic recorded his 50th career triple-double with 37 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Denver Nuggets cool off the Milwaukee Bucks 128-97 on Tuesday night.
Jokic notched his ninth triple-double of the season as Denver secured its third win in a row to open a five-game road trip.
He is the ninth player in NBA history with 50-plus triple-doubles, joining Oscar Robertson (181), Russell Westbrook (156), Magic Johnson (138), Jason Kidd (107), LeBron James (97), Wilt Chamberlain (78), Larry Bird (59) and James Harden (53).
The Nuggets snapped the Bucks’ five-game winning streak despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Jamal Murray scored 24 points for Denver while Khris Middleton had 20 points for Milwaukee.
Memphis Grizzlies 125 – Washington Wizards 111 Ja Morant scored 35 points and De’Anthony Melton sank a career-high six 3-pointers to propel Memphis to a victory at Washington.
Morant made 11 of 18 shots from the floor and added 10 assists to pace the Grizzlies to their third win in four games. Melton and Dillon Brooks finished with 20 points apiece for Memphis.
Washington’s Bradley Beal scored 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 23 to go along with a season-high-tying 15 assists. Westbrook, however, was responsible for eight of the team’s 22 turnovers.
Atlanta Hawks 94 – Miami Heat 80
Trae Young went on a personal 13-1 run in the fourth quarter, helping Atlanta cool off host Miami in the debut for Nate McMillan as the Hawks’ interim coach.
Young, who had just five points through three quarters, caught fire in the fourth as Atlanta snapped Miami’s six-game win streak, which had been the longest active run in the NBA. Averaging 26.5 points coming into the game, Young finished with 18 points and 10 assists.
Miami was led by Goran Dragic and Duncan Robinson, who scored 14 points each.
Boston Celtics 117 – Los Angeles Clippers 112
Kemba Walker scored 25 points and Boston held on to defeat visiting Los Angeles.
Jaylen Brown returned after missing a 111-110 win against the Wizards on Sunday and finished with 18 points. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard contributed 14 points each for Boston, which has won three in a row.
Paul George finished with 32 points and Reggie Jackson scored a season-high 25 points for the Clippers, who have lost two in a row.
Phoenix Suns 114 – Los Angeles Lakers 104
Dario Saric scored 21 points off the bench and visiting Phoenix defeated short-handed Los Angeles despite losing All-Star Devin Booker to an ejection in the third quarter.
Mikal Bridges had 19 points, Deandre Ayton and Booker added 17 apiece and Jae Crowder scored 15 on four 3-pointers for the Suns, who won their third in a row and their sixth in seven games. The win allowed the Suns to tie the Lakers for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
LeBron James had 38 points and six assists for the Lakers, who were without center Marc Gasol (health and safety protocols) and forward Kyle Kuzma (heel contusion). Los Angeles fell to 3-6 starting with the Feb. 14 game in which Anthony Davis sustained a calf injury that will keep him out through the All-Star break.
San Antonio Spurs 119 – New York Knicks 93
Trey Lyles scored a season-high 18 points to lead a balanced San Antonio attack as the Spurs ruled the second half and derailed visiting New York.
The Spurs led by four points at the half and outscored New York by 15 points in the third quarter. Patty Mills and Lyles combined for 17 points in the period for San Antonio in the surge.
Immanuel Quickley led New York with 26 points off the bench. RJ Barrett added 15 for the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.
—Field Level Media
