Jokic scores 29 in 3 quarters, Nuggets rout Blazers 127-99
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic finished an assist shy of a triple-double in just three quarters, Gary Harris helped keep hot-shooting Damian Lillard in check and the Denver Nuggets routed the Portland Trail Blazers 127-99 on Tuesday night.
Jokic had 29 points and 13 rebounds as the Nuggets improved to 8-0 against Northwest Division rivals this season. Even more, they accomplished something that hasn’t occurred very often of late — they contained Lillard. The Blazers point guard had a string of eight straight 30-point games snapped in being held to 21. Lillard was 8 of 23 from the floor, predominantly with Harris shadowing him.
The Nuggets pulled away in the second quarter when they outscored the Blazers by a 27-10 margin. The 10 points were a season low for a quarter by Portland. The 38 points at halftime were also a low mark for the season.
Denver led by 34 in the third, and Jokic was given the final quarter off. The big man had two chances to pick up his 10th assist before exiting late in the third, but Torrey Craig missed a left-handed layup and Malik Beasley a wide-open 3-pointer. Jokic has 10 triple-doubles this season.
The short-handed Nuggets were without Paul Millsap (bruised left knee), Mason Plumlee (right foot) and Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle). Jamal Murray returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with a sprained left ankle. He finished with 20 points.
Stopping Lillard has proved a tough assignment these days. He averaged 48.8 points over his last six games entering Tuesday. What’s more, he was shooting 57% from 3-point range during that streak. In this game, he was 1 of 6.
Lillard had nine assists. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: CJ McCollum was called for a flagrant-1 foul when he hip-checked Craig on a drive in the second quarter. McCollum had 20 points. … F Nassir Little was helped off the court after rolling his left ankle with 37.9 seconds remaining.
Nuggets: F Jerami Grant hobbled off the floor in the fourth quarter after turning his right ankle. … It was Denver’s seventh straight home win over Portland.
SPEEDY
Beasley displayed his speed when he zoomed from one end of the floor to score in just 2.7 seconds to close out the first quarter. He took an inbounds pass with 3.8 seconds left, charged ahead and converted a layup while being fouled at the buzzer. The clock was reset to 1.1 seconds.
TRADE DEADLINE
Nuggets coach Michael Malone doesn’t give Thursday’s trade deadline much thought. He leaves that to president of basketball operations Tim Connelly & Co.
“If you read my business card, it says head coach,” Malone cracked. “I love where our group is at and the potential we have. That being said, this is a business.”
JAMES FOR JANUARY
Lakers forward LeBron James was named the NBA Western Conference player of the month for January after averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists. Lillard’s numbers in the month were equally as impressive: 34.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists.
“It does surprise me,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said when told James won the award for January. “Dame had a great run at the end of the month.”
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Host San Antonio on Thursday. The teams have split two meetings this season.
Nuggets: At Utah on Wednesday. The Jazz have dropped four straight.
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