Jokic leads Nuggets past Blazers, securing Denver’s position as the third seed.
DENVER — Nikola Jokic recorded 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists, leading the Denver Nuggets to overcome a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-132 in overtime on Monday night.
With this victory, Denver (51-28) ascended to third place in the Western Conference, marking their season-high ninth consecutive win. Jokic achieved his 33rd triple-double, while Jamal Murray contributed seven of his 20 points during overtime, placing the Nuggets a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28).
This nine-game winning streak matches the longest for Denver during the Jokic era, as noted by ESPN Research.
Portland (40-39) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end and fell to ninth in the West, trailing the LA Clippers by half a game.
Denver managed to counter 30 points from Toumani Camara, who made eight of the Blazers’ franchise-record 25 three-pointers. Deni Avdija added 26 points and was 13 of 14 from the free-throw line, helping Portland establish a 115-99 advantage with 8:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets, similar to their overtime victory against San Antonio on Saturday, rallied behind Jokic’s impressive performance. He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, igniting a 21-5 run to narrow the gap. Avdija converted two free throws to extend the lead to 123-120, but Aaron Gordon’s corner three-pointer equalized the score with 1:12 left in regulation.
After Avdija missed a three-pointer, Gordon, who concluded the game with 23 points, made a baseline 20-footer to give the Nuggets a 125-123 advantage, and Avdija’s layup tied the game with 20 seconds remaining. Jokic’s attempt at the buzzer was unsuccessful, sending the match into overtime.
Gordon and Murray each connected on a three-pointer to start the extra period, establishing a six-point lead for Denver. Murray’s two free throws and a dunk increased the score to 135-128, and he assisted Jokic for a layup to secure the victory.
This win positioned Denver favorably in the standings, although they do not hold the tie-breaker against the Lakers. The Nuggets, who have the Grizzlies, Thunder, and Spurs left on their schedule, will need to finish one game ahead of L.A. to secure the No. 3 seed. The Lakers, on the other hand, will conclude their season against the Thunder, Warriors, Suns, and Jazz.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
