Denver
At 26-11, the Nuggets are off to their best NBA start in franchise history. This also marks the latest they’ve been in first place in the conference since March 16, 1977.
Jokic turned in another impressive stat line, also adding six assists, three steals and one blocked shot. He was 16 of 29 from the floor and 4 of 5 from the line.
Gary Harris added 17 points off the bench for a Denver team that scored 27 points off turnovers.
Kemba Walker had 20 points for the Hornets, who kicked off a six-game trip. Bismack Biyombo added a season-high 16 points.
Trey Lyles and Millsap hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give the Nuggets a 105-93 lead. Torrey Craig cemented the win with a dunk on a fast break with 1:50 remaining to extend the lead to 14.
Craig had the hustle play of the day late in the fourth, saving a ball heading out of bounds and winding up about five rows deep into the stands.
Malik Monk scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half, including a 3-point buzzer-beater over Murray to end the third that cut it to 89-84. Neither team was able to gain any sort of separation through three quarters, with Denver’s biggest lead eight points and Charlotte’s three.
Sixers 106, Mavericks 100
Philadelphia
Embiid hit two key free throws late for Philadelphia, which was without Jimmy Butler for the second straight game due to an upper respiratory infection. Philadelphia improved to 17-3 at home.
Wesley Matthews had 18 points for Dallas. The Mavericks are 3-18 on the road.
Jazz 110, Pistons 105
Detroit
The Jazz nearly squandered an 11-point lead of their own in the final quarter, allowing the Pistons to cut the lead to one on a 3-pointer by Blake Griffin. Ricky Rubio made two free throws for Utah with 12.3 seconds remaining, and Detroit turned the ball over on its next possession.
Griffin scored 34 points for the Pistons.
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