Murray, Jokic help defending champion Nuggets outlast Nets, 122-117
NEW YORK (AP) Jamal Murray scored 32 points, Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 11 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets held off the Brooklyn Nets 122-117 on Friday night for their third straight victory.
Aaron Gordon added 18 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 15 to help the defending champion Nuggets improve to 20-10.
“The energy we need to start the game right,” Jokic said when asked why Denver has won four straight on the road. “I think we had a 14-7 run (to start the game) and we kind of slowed down a little bit. But (we need to) be the aggressor. We need the one to be the one (controlling) the game.”
Brooklyn has lost five in a row to fall to 13-15.
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 23 points. Cam Johnson had 17, Dorian Finney-Smith and Mikal Bridges each had 14, Royce O’Neale and Day’Ron Sharpe had 13 apiece and Nic Claxton finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
“It’s a pretty good recipe for us,” Brooklyn coach Jacques Vaughn said about the balanced scoring. “I think we had 18 assists at (halftime), over 30 to finish the game; seven dudes in double figures.”
Thomas’ four-point play with 19.4 seconds brought the Nets within one.
“Overall, a good effort from our guys,” Vaughn said. “I think we put ourselves in a position to try and win a ballgame. I thought our attention for the majority of the night was in the right place."
Following a timeout, Murray made three of four free throws to push the advantage to four. The teams then spent the final five seconds trading free throws.
“It worked out,” Murray said about his missed free throw with 18.1 seconds left.
The guard grabbed the offensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Thomas. He then knocked down both free throws to give the Nuggets a 118-114 lead.
The Nets did not have Ben Simmons (left lower back nerve impingement) and Lonnie Walker IV (strained left hamstring) due to injuries.
UP NEXT:
Nuggets: At Charlotte on Saturday night.
Nets: Hosts Detroit on Saturday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nikola Jokic vs. Nic Claxton (Aaron Gordon gains possession) | |||
11:34 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot | 2-0 | |
11:16 | Mikal Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:12 | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | |||
11:08 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 2-2 | |
10:54 | Spencer Dinwiddie personal foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
10:48 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 5-2 | |
10:27 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 5-5 | |
10:13 | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
10:11 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
10:09 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point putback layup | 7-5 | |
9:59 | Nic Claxton misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:57 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | Jamal Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:37 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
9:30 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 7-7 | |
9:15 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 10-7 | |
8:58 | Cam Thomas misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
8:56 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point dunk (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 12-7 | |
8:28 | Mikal Bridges turnover (lost ball) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | |||
8:24 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:02 | Nic Claxton misses two point hook shot | |||
8:00 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:50 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
7:46 | Cam Thomas misses three point running jump shot | |||
7:42 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point running dunk (Jamal Murray assists) | 14-7 | |
7:37 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
7:27 | Mikal Bridges turnover (bad pass) | |||
7:27 | Cam Thomas personal foul (Loose ball) (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
7:12 | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:07 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
7:01 | Cameron Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:57 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
6:49 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving finger roll layup (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 16-7 | |
6:35 | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
6:32 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
6:29 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 18-7 | |
6:17 | Aaron Gordon personal foul (Cameron Johnson draws the foul) | |||
6:08 | Nikola Jokic personal foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
5:57 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 18-9 | |
5:40 | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Day'Ron Sharpe steals) | |||
5:36 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point running dunk (Day'Ron Sharpe assists) | 18-11 | |
5:30 | Aaron Gordon turnover (bad pass) (Cameron Johnson steals) | |||
5:18 | Jamal Murray blocks Mikal Bridges's two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:14 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
5:13 | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point putback layup | 18-13 | |
5:01 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving layup | 20-13 | |
4:38 | +3 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 20-16 | |
4:24 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point cutting layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 22-16 | |
4:11 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point pullup jump shot (Day'Ron Sharpe assists) | 22-19 | |
3:58 | Mikal Bridges personal foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:48 | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving layup | |||
3:44 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
3:44 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point tip layup | 24-19 | |
3:29 | Reggie Jackson shooting foul (Dennis Smith Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:29 | +1 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-20 | |
3:29 | +1 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-21 | |
3:14 | Reggie Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Day'Ron Sharpe steals) | |||
3:04 | Cam Thomas misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:00 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
3:00 | Day'Ron Sharpe misses two point tip layup | |||
3:00 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
2:54 | Nikola Jokic blocks Day'Ron Sharpe's two point cutting dunk | |||
2:49 | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | |||
2:47 | Royce O'Neale blocks Christian Braun's two point running layup | |||
2:47 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
2:47 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
2:40 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
2:37 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Dorian Finney-Smith turnover (bad pass) (Nikola Jokic steals) | |||
2:10 | Day'Ron Sharpe personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
2:02 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 26-21 | |
1:48 | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 26-24 | |
1:36 | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | |||
1:33 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
1:21 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 26-27 | |
1:00 | Christian Braun misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:57 | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | |||
0:51 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
0:47 | Royce O'Neale offensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Royce O'Neale draws the foul) | |||
0:37 | Royce O'Neale misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:37 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:37 | +1 | Royce O'Neale makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-28 | |
0:29 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 28-28 | |
0:10 | Dennis Smith Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:10 | Julian Strawther defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Reggie Jackson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:50 | Royce O'Neale turnover (traveling) | |||
11:39 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
11:35 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
11:25 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point dunk (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 28-30 | |
11:11 | Julian Strawther turnover (lost ball) (Dennis Smith Jr. steals) | |||
11:06 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point running jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 28-33 | |
10:52 | Nic Claxton blocks Reggie Jackson's two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
10:52 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
10:47 | Julian Strawther misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:45 | Julian Strawther offensive rebound | |||
10:34 | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | |||
10:31 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
10:22 | Reggie Jackson shooting foul (Royce O'Neale draws the foul) | |||
10:22 | +1 | Royce O'Neale makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-34 | |
10:22 | +1 | Royce O'Neale makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-35 | |
10:03 | +3 | Peyton Watson makes three point jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 31-35 | |
9:42 | +2 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes two point driving dunk (Royce O'Neale assists) | 31-37 | |
9:23 | Reggie Jackson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:21 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
9:03 | Nic Claxton misses two point driving layup | |||
8:58 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | +2 | DeAndre Jordan makes two point alley-oop layup (Reggie Jackson assists) | 33-37 | |
8:34 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 33-39 | |
8:21 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 35-39 | |
8:08 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 35-41 | |
8:07 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
7:55 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point turnaround jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 37-41 | |
7:42 | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point cutting dunk (Cam Thomas assists) | 37-43 | |
7:24 | Peyton Watson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:23 | Nets defensive rebound | |||
7:23 | Christian Braun personal foul (Loose ball) (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | |||
7:10 | Cam Thomas misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
7:05 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
7:03 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point running layup (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 39-43 | |
6:48 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
6:42 | Spencer Dinwiddie offensive rebound | |||
6:40 | Cam Thomas turnover (traveling) | |||
6:24 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 41-43 | |
6:08 | Royce O'Neale misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:06 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
5:51 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 43-43 | |
5:37 | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 43-45 | |
5:37 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shooting foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
5:37 | +1 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 43-46 | |
5:25 | Jamal Murray misses two point reverse layup | |||
5:21 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
5:18 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point running reverse layup | 43-48 | |
4:55 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:52 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
4:44 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
4:34 | Michael Porter Jr. blocks Mikal Bridges's two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:29 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
4:27 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point jump shot | |||
4:26 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:16 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 45-48 | |
4:01 | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
4:01 | +1 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-49 | |
4:01 | Day'Ron Sharpe misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:57 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
3:49 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 47-49 | |
3:34 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 47-51 | |
3:17 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 49-51 | |
3:03 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 49-54 | |
2:43 | Day'Ron Sharpe personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
2:35 | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving hook shot | |||
2:32 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | +2 | Cameron Johnson makes two point running pullup jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 49-56 | |
2:03 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point dunk (Jamal Murray assists) | 51-56 | |
1:36 | +2 | Royce O'Neale makes two point driving layup (Nic Claxton assists) | 51-58 | |
1:17 | Spencer Dinwiddie shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
1:17 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 52-58 | |
1:17 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 53-58 | |
1:02 | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
0:59 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:53 |