Nikola Jokic became the second player in NBA history to record 200 career triple-doubles and Christian Brown hit back-to-back 3-pointers in a critical final game as the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-91 on Wednesday.
It was Jokic’s second triple-double, both coming against New Orleans, as the 12-year veteran finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Jokic joined Russell Westbrook as the all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209 in 18 seasons.
All five Nuggets players finished in double figures, led by Jamal Murray’s 23 points. Aaron Gordon had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, Brown added 12 points and Trevon Brazile added 11 points.
Derik Queen came off the bench to have a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, but no Pelican scored more than 11 except Zion Williamson (game-high 25 points).
Lakers 103, Clippers 87
Quentin Grimes scored 23 points, Collin Sexton had 21, and the visiting Lakers overcame Luka Doncic’s absence to beat the Clippers in Inglewood, Calif.
Austin Reeves had 16 points and Matisse Thybulle had 15 as the Lakers bounced back from their first loss of the season. Walker Kessler had 11 points and nine rebounds in his fifth game for the Lakers. Doncic was sidelined for the second night of back-to-back games with back tightness, while the Lakers were also without Ziaire Williams with a foot injury.
Rookie Keaton Wagler had a career-high 21 points and Derrick Jones Jr. had 15 as the Clippers lost for the third time in four games this season, two of which came at the hands of the Lakers. Darius Garland scored 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Mavericks 120, Thunder 96
Cooper Flagg led host Dallas to victory over Oklahoma City with 26 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds.
PJ Washington added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who had eight players in double figures.
The Thunder fell short in their bid to become the first team in NBA history to start three straight 5-0 seasons. Ajay Mitchell scored 29 points for Oklahoma City, which was without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso.
Spurs 117, Jazz 111 (OT)
Victor Wembanyama had 36 points and 14 rebounds as San Antonio beat injury-hit Utah in overtime in Salt Lake City.
Devin Vassell scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime for the Spurs, who won their third straight.
Keyonte George scored 31 for Utah, which has lost three straight. Ace Bailey added 19 points and Darry Peterson added 18 points.
Pistons 97, Hornets 89
Cade Cunningham scored 30 points and Detroit used a strong second half to beat Charlotte.
Paul Reid scored 16 points, Deniss Jenkins 14 points and Duncan Robinson 13 points. Cunningham, who also dished out seven assists, shot 10-for-22 from the field and was 4-of-9.
Charlotte’s Brandon Miller scored 31 points for the third straight game and reached 30 points, but had just four points over the final 15 minutes and not enough other offense to keep the Hornets going. Dennis Schroder (14 points) was the only Charlotte player in double figures.
Rockets 132, Bucks 100
Fred VanVleet scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter, and Amen Thompson scored 23 points to lead Milwaukee to a win in Houston.
Thompson scored 11 points in the first quarter and fueled a 15-2 run that closed the opening two frames and allowed Houston to take control. Kevin Durant scored 18 points for the Rockets, who were without starting center Alperen Sheng (back) and guard Marcus Smart (elbow).
Tyler Herro led the Bucks with 23 points and 4 3-pointers, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. He scored 19 points and 3 3-pointers. The Bucks’ three remaining starters – Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins – finished 6 for 27 points and scored 12 points.
Heat 129, Hawks 117
Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 24 points and became Miami’s all-time leading rebounder as the Heat earned their first win of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for Miami, which has lost its first four games. Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points, Pelle Larsson scored 17 points. Adebayo grabbed nine boards and broke Udonis Haslem’s career rebounding record of 5,791. Adebayo finished the night with 5794 points.
Nikeil Alexander-Walker led “Atlanta” with 23 points and collected 5 3-pointers. Rookie guard Kingston Flemings scored a season-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. CJ McCollum had 13 points, Jalen Johnson had 12 points, Onyeka Okongwu had 11 points while battling foul trouble, and Jock Landale and Aaron Wiggins each had 10 points.
76ers 114, Pacers 109
Tyrese Maxey led a balanced attack with 27 points and Anfernee Simons ignited a deficit-erasing fourth-quarter run as Philadelphia cruised past Indiana in Indianapolis.
Simons scored 20 points off the bench. For the 76ers, Joel Embiid scored 21 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown scored 20 points and 10 rebounds, and LeBron James scored 13 points and 10 assists.
Pascal Siakam scored 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds and Andrew Nembhard had an 18-point, 14-assist double-double for the Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring).
Knicks 133, Bulls 127
Jalen Brunson scored 38 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead New York past Chicago.
OG Anunoby scored 23 points for the Knicks, who trailed by 19 points in the third quarter but secured their second win in as many nights after an 0-3 start.
Norman Powell scored 14 of his 30 points in the third quarter for the Bulls, who had seven players finish in double figures. Chicago has lost three in a row.
Cavaliers 121, Wizards 111
Evan Mobley had 24 points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland beat Washington, spoiling the debut of top NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsan.
Dybantsa scored 19 points, shot 8 of 12 from the field and had two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. He missed the Wizards’ first four games with a sprained left ankle.
Peyton Watson had a season-high 22 points for the Cavaliers, who have won three straight. Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr scored 18 points each for the “Wizards” team, which has lost its last two games.
Warriors 119, Timberwolves 114
Stephen Curry had 44 points and eight rebounds as Golden State ran away with a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Yaxel Lendeborg added 26 points for the Warriors, who won their second straight game after losing their first three contests of the season. Curry shot 6 of 16 from 3-point range and dished out six assists.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points against his former team to lead the Timberwolves, who lost their second straight game after a 3-0 start. Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each finished with 19 points.
Raptors 129, Magic 99
Scottie Barnes, who was scoreless in his previous outing, scored a game-high 28 points to lead Toronto over visiting Orlando.
RJ Barrett finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley added 16 points and Ja’Kobe Walter added 14 points.
Tristan da Silva led the Magic with 20 points off the bench, Franz Wagner 15 points and Desmond Bane 13 points.
– Field Level Media