Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his fifth triple-double of the season, Jamal Murray returned to the lineup with a season-high 28 points, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 135-122 on Friday night.
Jokic notched his 135th career triple-double midway through the third quarter.
Murray missed the previous three games while in concussion protocol but showed no rust, going 9-for-17 from the field and 4-for-10 behind the arc.
Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun contributed 19 points each, Peyton Watson had 16 points and Russell Westbrook finished with 10 assists for the Nuggets, who have won four in a row.
Miami has two losses to start its six-game road trip, and forward Jimmy Butler left with a right ankle injury midway through the first quarter. Seven Heat players scored double figures, led by Tyler Herro, who had 24 points and 11 assists.
Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo scored 20 points apiece, with Adebayo adding rebounds and two steals. Terry Rozier and Haywood Highsmith scored 15 points each, Nikola Jovic contributed 11 and Josh Richardson 10.
Denver took a 16-point lead late in the first quarter, but the Heat scored the next 13 points during a 21-6 run that made it 46-45 approaching the midpoint of the second period. Braun’s corner 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left in the period stretched the Nuggets’ lead to 71-60 at half.
Denver came out strong in the third quarter to extend the lead. Porter opened with a 3-pointer, Murray and Watson also hit from deep and Jokic had five points and three assists during a 20-5 run that gave the Nuggets a 91-65 lead, their biggest of the night.
Miami answered with four 3-pointers to trim the deficit to 98-86 with 1:58 left in the third and trailed 104-90 heading into the fourth.
Murray opened the final quarter with a jumper, Watson dunked and Porter and Westbrook hit 3-pointers to push the lead back up to 114-97 with 8:13 left. The Heat rallied again, outscoring Denver 18-8 to make it 122-115 with 3:18 remaining, but the Nuggets held on.
–Field Level Media