On Saturday, Denver Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 56 points. On Sunday, he followed up that remarkable effort with 48 points, headlining a 12-game slate as the NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchups draw near.
Jokic, on 17-for-29 and 3-of-6 from deep, grabbed 14 rebounds and had 8 assists in an impressive 141-111 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Michael Porter Jr. added 26 points and 7 rebounds (12-for-17) and Christian Braun scored 17 for the 12-10 Nuggets. The Hawks, playing without Jalen Johnson (right shoulder) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (quadriceps) were led by De’Andre Hunter’s 20 points. Larry Nance Jr. in a starting role put up 16 on 6-for-11, while Trae Young (6-for-13) scored 15 and had 10 assists. Dyson Daniels led the starters with 18 points and 6 assists on 7-for-15 shooting.
The Hawks had been surging coming into Sunday, winners of six in a row, including two victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers and one over the Milwaukee Bucks in addition to Friday’s thrilling overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Their record stands at 13-12.
In San Antonio, the Spurs (12-12) did enough to fend off the New Orleans Pelicans in a 121-116 win, as Victor Wembanyama came up big late with a straight away triple and good interior defense. The highlight of the game was Chris Paul (6 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds) passing Jason Kidd’s mark of 12,091 for second on the NBA’s all-time assist list.
The Spurs were led by Wembanyama’s 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks (9-for-16 from the field, 3-for-7 from downtown), with rookie Stephon Castle playing a solid game with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists on 8-for-15 shooting. Charles Bassey, in 18 minutes off the bench, scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds.
For the now 5-20 Pelicans, a nightmarish season ravaged by injuries continues, as it was announced Sunday that Brandon Ingram will be out indefinitely with a left ankle sprain. The team is already without Zion Williamson and just recently got Dejounte Murray, C.J. McCollum, and Herb Jones back from injury.
The loss was especially tough because of how complete the Pelicans played, with all five starters in double figures. Trey Murphy led with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists (8-for-16), while McCollum (8-for-18) scored 19. Murray was just 6-for-20 but put up 18 points and 11 assists. Yves Missi registered a strong double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Jones (5-for-10) scored 12.
In Miami, the Heat (12-10) prevailed 122-113 to hand the Cavaliers their fourth loss of the season (21-4).
Tyler Herro (34 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds) shot 10-for-19 to lead the home side, while Duncan Robinson was 7-for-11 for 23 points. Bam Adebayo put up 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists (7-for-14) while Jimmy Butler (6-for-12) scored 18.
Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9-for-19, while Donovan Mitchell struggled with just 12 points on 5-for-16. Mobley played just 12 minutes before exiting, but the Cavs did get good bench production, with Georges Niang (5-for-7) and Caris LeVert (5-for-7) putting up 15 points and 13 points while Ty Jerome was just 4-for-11 but did score 12 points. Regarding Mobley, whom on Saturday joined Kevin Durant as the only other player in league history under age 25 to record 40-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, 3-plus blocks, and 5-plus three-pointers in a game, Cavalier head coach Kenny Atkinson said that that he does not think the ankle injury is a serious one. That is welcomed news for Cavalier fans and their team as the franchise is having one of its most successful seasons.
Around the League
76ers 108 (7-15)
Bulls 100 (10-15)
Embiid: 31 PTS, 12 REB (13-for-28 FG) - first game since November 20
Maxey: 25 PTS, 14 AST, 11 REB (10-for-22 FG)
LaVine: 30 PTS (10-for-21 FG, 6-for-14 3PT)
Giddey: 9 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB
PHI: Won 4 of last 5
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Bucks 118 (12-11)
Nets 111 (10-14)
Antetokounmpo: 34 PTS, 11 REB (14-for-22 FG)
Portis: 23 PTS, 5 REB off bench (9-for-10 FG, 5-for-5 3PT)
Lillard: 15 PTS, 11 AST, 6 REB (2-for-7 FG)
Schroder: 34 PTS, 11 AST (13-for-19 FG, 4-for-7 3PT)
Johnson: 26 PTS (9-for-16 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)
Claxton: 21 PTS, 10 REB (9-for-14 FG)
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Hornets 113 (7-17)
Pacers 109 (10-15)
Miller: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST (9-for-18 FG, 4-for-9 3PT)
Micic: 18 PTS, 9 AST (7-for-15 FG, 4-for-6 3PT)
McConnell: 30 PTS, 6 AST off bench (14-for-19 FG)
Walker: 15 PTS, 3 REB off bench (6-for-7 FG)
Haliburton/Mathurin/Siakam: 29 PTS (11-for-29 FG)
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Magic 115 (17-9)
Suns 110 (12-11)
Suggs: 26 PTS (8-for-18 FG, 4-for-10 3PT)
Bitadze: 21 PTS, 16 REB (8-for-15 FG)
Booker: 25 PTS, 7 AST (8-for-21 FG)
Jones: 21 PTS, 6 AST (7-for-16 FG)
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Grizzlies 140 (17-8)
Wizards 112 (3-19)
Jackson Jr.: 21 PTS (8-for-15 FG)
Pippen Jr.: 14 PTS, 12 AST (6-for-11 FG)
Aldama: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST (7-for-11 FG)
Morant: DNP (back)
Bane: DNP (toe)
Valanciunas: 20 PTS, 14 REB (8-for-17 FG)
Bagley: 20 PTS, 7 REB off bench (9-for-15 FG)
Coulibaly: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST (6-for-13 FG)
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Warriors 114 (14-9)
Timberwolves 106 (12-11)
Curry: 30 PTS, 8 AST (8-for-18 FG, 5-for-11 3PT)
Hield: 27 PTS (10-for-18 FG, 7-for-13 3PT)
Kuminga: 20 PTS, 7 REB (7-for-16 FG)
Edwards: 27 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB (10-for-19 FG, 5-for-9 3PT)
Alexander-Walker: 19 PTS off bench (7-for-9 FG, 4-for-5 3PT)
Randle: 14 PTS, 11 REB (4-for-14 FG)
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Rockets 117 (16-8)
Clippers 106 (14-11)
Green: 31 PTS (9-for-20 FG, 5-for-13 3PT)
Thompson: 22 PTS, 8 REB (9-for-14 FG)
Brooks: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST (7-for-15 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)
Hyland: 22 PTS off bench (7-for-13 FG, 5-for-10 3PT)
Zubac: 21 PTS, 12 REB (9-for-15 FG)
Porter Jr.: 19 PTS, 6 AST (8-for-18 FG)
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Kings 141 (12-13)
Jazz 97 (5-18)
Huerter: 26 PTS off bench (10-for-14 FG, 6-for-9 3PT)
Fox: 21 PTS, 9 AST (9-for-16 FG)
Sabonis: 19 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST (8-for-13 FG)
George: 25 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB (8-for-14 FG, 3-for-6 3PT)
Collins: 19 PTS, 7 REB (5-for-12 FG, 5-for-8 3PT)
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Lakers 107 (13-11)
Trail Blazers 98 (8-16)
Davis: 30 PTS, 11 REB (10-for-21 FG)
Russell: 28 PTS, 14 AST, 5 REB off bench (9-for-17 FG, 5-for-10 3PT)
Hachimura: 23 PTS, 5 AST (9-for-13 FG)
James: DNP (sore left foot)
Sharpe: 19 PTS, 6 REB (7-for-15 FG)
Ayton: 14 PTS, 19 REB (7-for-14 FG)
Henderson: 13 PTS off bench (3-for-6 FG, 6-for-6 FT)
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NBA Cup Quarterfinals - Tuesday on TNT
Orlando (4) at Milwaukee (1) - 7:00 p.m.
Dallas (4) at Oklahoma City (1) - 9:30 p.m.
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