Nikola Jokic produced 31 points, a career-high 22 assists and 21 rebounds as the host Denver Nuggets rallied after losing a 21-point lead and beat the Phoenix Suns 149-141 in overtime on Friday.
Jokic logged the first 30-20-20 stat line in NBA history. He notched his 29th triple double of the season and 159th of his career triple-double with a rebound less than two minutes into the second half.
Aaron Gordon tied his career best with seven 3-pointers and finished with 27 points, Christian Braun scored 25 points and Jamal Murray contributed 19 points and eight assists for Denver.
The Nuggets have won two straight, and they took three of their four meetings with Phoenix this season.
Jokic’s bucket began a 7-0 Denver run to start overtime. Durant stopped the run with two free throws, but Jokic scored and made a free throw and later Braun had a dunk and layup as the Nuggets went ahead by as many as 11 in overtime.
The Suns put Denver on the line in the last minute but Murray, Braun and Gordon combined to hit six free throws.
Devin Booker had 34 points and seven assists for Phoenix, while Kevin Durant posted 29 points and nine rebounds, and he hit a tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation.
Mason Plumlee had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns. Nick Richards also scored 18 points, Bradley Beal put up 11 points and nine assists, and Grayson Allen added 11 points.
Phoenix, down by 85-64 in the third quarter, rallied after trailing by 11 to start the fourth. Plumlee hit two free throws, Allen had a running dunk and Tyus Jones and Booker hit 3-pointers to make it 110-103 with 8:19 left.
The Suns continued to chip away and got within 117-114 after six straight points from Booker. Durant and Allen each made two free throws, and a put-back by Booker tied it at 120 with 2:16 left.
Jokic missed at the other end before Booker hit a fadeaway to put Phoenix ahead. Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., who finished with 16 points, sank a layup to tie it at 122 with 33.3 seconds to go. Durant missed at the other end, and Braun drained a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left before Durant delivered again.
–Field Level Media
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