Nikola Jokic became the second player in NBA history to tally 200 career triple-doubles and Christian Braun knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers during a critical late-game stretch as the Denver Nuggets held off the host New Orleans Pelicans 104-91 on Wednesday.
It was Jokic’s second triple-double of the season, both coming against New Orleans, as the 12-year veteran finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Jokic joined Russell Westbrook, the all-time leader in triple-doubles who piled up 209 in 18 seasons.
All five Nuggets players finished with double-digit points, led by Jamal Murray’s 23. Aaron Gordon registered a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, Braun added 12 points and Trevon Brazile chipped in 11 points.
Derik Queen came off the bench to post a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, but no other Pelican except for Zion Williamson (game-high 25 points) scored more than 11.
Lakers 103, Clippers 87
Quentin Grimes scored 23 points, Collin Sexton added 21 and the visiting Lakers overcame the absence of Luka Doncic to earn a victory over the Clippers at Inglewood, Calif.
Austin Reaves put up 16 points and Matisse Thybulle logged 15 as the Lakers rebounded from their first loss of the season. Walker Kessler amassed 11 points and nine rebounds in his fifth game for the Lakers. Doncic was held out due to back tightness on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Lakers also were without Ziaire Williams because of a foot injury.
Rookie Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 21 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 15 for the Clippers, who lost for the third time in four games this season, including two defeats at the hands of the Lakers. Darius Garland scored 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Mavericks 120, Thunder 96
Cooper Flagg had 26 points, eight assists and five rebounds to lead host Dallas to a victory over Oklahoma City.
P.J. Washington added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who had eight players score in double figures.
The Thunder failed in a bid to become the first team in NBA history to begin three consecutive seasons 5-0. Ajay Mitchell scored 29 points for Oklahoma City, which played without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso.
Spurs 117, Jazz 111 (OT)
Victor Wembanyama posted 36 points and 14 rebounds as San Antonio defeated injury-plagued Utah in overtime in Salt Lake City.
Devin Vassell scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the extra period for the Spurs, who won their third straight game.
Keyonte George scored 31 for Utah, which has lost three in a row. Ace Bailey added 19 points, and Darryn Peterson contributed 18.
Pistons 97, Hornets 89
Cade Cunningham scored 30 points and Detroit used a strong second half to defeat visiting Charlotte.
Paul Reed added 16 points, reserve Daniss Jenkins posted 14 points and Duncan Robinson chipped in 13 points. Cunningham, who also supplied seven assists, shot 10-for-22 from the field and made 4 of 9 3-pointers.
Charlotte’s Brandon Miller scored 31 points for his third consecutive game reaching 30 points, but he had only four points across the final 15 minutes and there wasn’t enough other offense to keep the Hornets going. Dennis Schroder (14 points) was the only other Charlotte player in double figures.
Rockets 132, Bucks 100
Fred VanVleet scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter while Amen Thompson added 23 points as visiting Houston beat Milwaukee.
Thompson tallied 11 first-quarter points and fueled a 15-2 run that bridged the opening two frames and enabled Houston to seize control. Kevin Durant scored 18 points for the Rockets, who were without starting center Alperen Sengun (back) and guard Marcus Smart (elbow).
Tyler Herro led the Bucks with 23 points and four 3-pointers while Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 19 points and three 3-pointers. The Bucks’ three remaining starters — Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins — finished 6 for 27 and combined for 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 claimed their first victory of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for Miami, which had dropped its first four games. Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points and Pelle Larsson added 17. Adebayo grabbed nine boards and broke Udonis Haslem’s franchise record of 5,791 career rebounds. Adebayo ended the night with 5,794.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 23 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Rookie guard Kingston Flemings scored a season-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. CJ McCollum put up 13 points, Jalen Johnson added 12, Onyeka Okongwu had 11 while battling foul trouble, and Jock Landale and Aaron Wiggins chipped in 10 apiece.
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 overtook Indiana in Indianapolis.
Simons finished with 20 points off the bench. Joel Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown logged 20 points and 10 rebounds and LeBron James had 13 points and 10 assists for the 76ers.
Pascal Siakam totaled 26 points to complement 11 rebounds and Andrew Nembhard chipped in with an 18-point, 14-assist double-double for the Pacers, who were without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring).
Knicks 133, Bulls 127
Jalen Brunson scored 38 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 13 rebounds to boost visiting New York past Chicago.
OG Anunoby contributed 23 points for the Knicks, who trailed by as many as 19 points in the third quarter but secured their second victory 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 finished in double figures. Chicago has lost three in a row.
Cavaliers 121, Wizards 111
Evan Mobley scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Cleveland beat visiting Washington, spoiling the NBA debut of top overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa.
Dybantsa had a team-high 19 points in 27 minutes, making 8 of 12 field-goal attempts and logging two rebounds and two assists. He missed the Wizards’ first four games due to a sprained left ankle.
Peyton Watson had a season-high 22 points for the Cavaliers, who have won three in a row. Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr each scored 18 points for the Wizards, who have dropped their past two games.
Warriors 119, Timberwolves 114
Stephen Curry scored 44 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Golden State escaped 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 six assists.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points against his former team to lead the Timberwolves, who dropped their second game in a row after a 3-0 start. Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each finished with 19 points.
Raptors 129, Magic 99
Scottie Barnes, held scoreless in his previous contest, put up a game-high 28 points to lead Toronto past 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 pitched in 14 points.
Tristan da Silva led the Magic with 20 points off the bench, Franz Wagner posted 15 points and Desmond Bane produced 13.
