Jokic’s 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists help the Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime

Jokic’s 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists help the Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime
Jokic’s 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists help the Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, and the Denver Nuggets rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime on Monday.

Denver (51-28) moved into third place in the Western Conference with its season-high ninth straight win. Jokic recorded his 33rd triple-double and Jamal Murray scored seven of his 20 points in overtime to put the Nuggets a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28).

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Portland (40-39) had its three-game winning streak snapped and fell to ninth place in the West, a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers.

Denver overcame 30 points from Toumani Camara, who made eight of the Blazers’ franchise-record 25 3-pointers. Deni Avdija added 26 points and went 13 of 14 from the line to help Portland build a 115-99 lead with 8:13 left in the quarter.

The Nuggets, as they did in the overtime win against San Antonio on Saturday, rallied behind Jokic’s big night. He scored 10 points in the quarter and sparked a 21-5 run to pull within one. Avdija made two free throws to make the score 123-120, but a corner three-pointer by Aaron Gordon tied the score with 1:12 left in regulation.

Avdija missed a 3-pointer, Gordon, who finished with 23 points, hit a 20-footer from the baseline to give the Nuggets a 125-123 lead and Avdija’s layup tied the score with 20 seconds left. Jokic failed at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

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Gordon and Murray each scored three points to open the extra period and give Denver a six-point lead. Murray’s two free throws and a dunk made the score 135-128, and he gave Jokic a layup to seal the score.

Portland led by 14 at halftime and stretched the score to 96-78 at the end of the third.

Next

Trail Blazers: At San Antonio on Wednesday night.

Nuggets: Host Memphis on Wednesday night.

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NBA AP: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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