DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had another triple-double with 40 points and 27 rebounds to help the Denver Nuggets beat the Charlotte Hornets 119-115 on Sunday night.
Jokic also had 10 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season and 81st overall. He had 20 rebounds in the first half.
Wilt Chamberlain is the only player with at least 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists in an NBA game. He did it four times, most recently when he had 53 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists for Philadelphia on March 18, 1968.
Jokic sealed the victory with two free throws in 13 seconds.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 20 points and Aaron Gordon had 19 as the Nuggets handed the Hornets their eighth straight loss.
LaMelo Ball scored 31 points for Charlotte. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 16 points and Gordon Hayward scored 15.
Up three before halftime, Denver extended its lead to 94-80 in the fourth quarter, fueled by Jokic’s 11-point third period.
Charlotte fought back, however, to make it 107-104 on Ball’s fadeaway jumper with 3:29 left. The Nuggets regained the cushion when Gordon went in for a reverse layup ahead of Jokic before Jokic hit a layup on the Nuggets’ ensuing possession for a 111-104 lead with 1:57 left.
Jokic capped the drive with a triple-double that set up Bruce Brown’s 3-pointer that gave Denver an eight-point lead with 1:20 left.
But again, Charlotte got within two on a dunk by Washington before Jokic made two free throws and Charlotte couldn’t get a shot after turning the ball over in the final minutes.
SMALL CLUB
Others have come close but not matched the 40-27-10 stat. Elgin Baylor scored 52 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists on December 13, 1961. On January 22, 2018, DeMarcus Cousins had 44 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 44 points, 20 rebounds. 11 assists on February 26, 1972, and in a game on January 9, 1965, Oscar Robinson finished with 42 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.
ADVICES
Nuggets. Michael Porter missed his 12th straight game with a strained left heel but has made steady progress in his rehab and is close to returning, coach Michael Malone said. “He’s been doing more and more with the coaching staff,” Malone said. “Maybe in the next week to 10 days we can try to get him back and get him back into that rotation. We miss Michael Porter. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do here.”
NEXT
Hornets. Continue the six-game road trip Monday night in Sacramento.
Nuggets. Hosted Memphis on Tuesday night.
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