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Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets (Getty Images via AFP)
LOS ANGELES – Nikola Jokic had his 13th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets overcame a 44-point performance from Damian Lillard to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113 on Tuesday.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as Denver extended its winning streak to seven games to move one game behind Memphis at the top of the Western Conference.
It’s the 17th 30-point triple-double of Jokic’s career, placing him in the illustrious company along with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in seventh in the all-time ranking.
A high-scoring first half saw Denver take a 73-66 lead, with Lillard keeping Portland firmly in the hunt with 30 points in the first two quarters.
But Denver’s defensive adjustments in the second half helped them take a firm grip on the contest as they pulled away in the fourth quarter – leading by as many as 20 points at one stage – to seal the victory.
“It’s always difficult and it’s always interesting for him,” Jokic said afterwards. “They’re a good team with a good coach and Lillard is playing really well right now.
“But I think in the second half we played really good defense … and that’s why we won the game.”
Jokic’s 36-point haul came off 13-of-14 shooting from the field, including a near-perfect display from the free-throw line.
The Serb is one of five Denver players in double figures — Michael Porter Jr. added 23 points and Jamal Murray 17.
Bruce Brown had 12 off the bench while Aaron Gordon added 11.
Portland talisman Lillard meanwhile made six-of-12 from three-point range and went a perfect 14-of-14 from the foul line in his 44-point tally.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, the depleted Brooklyn Nets fell to their third straight loss with a 106-98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nets lost Kevin Durant (knee) and Kyrie Irving (calf) to injuries, and their absences proved critical as Spurs star Keldon Johnson had 36 points and 11 rebounds.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for San Antonio, which remains at the bottom of the Western Conference with 14 wins and 31 losses.
Brooklyn hasn’t won a game since Durant suffered a right knee injury against Miami on Jan. 8.
‘team effort’
While Brooklyn struggled to rediscover its winning rhythm without Durant, Milwaukee once again shrugged off the loss of star Giannis Antetokounmpo in a 130-122 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo has now missed four straight games for the Bucks, but Jrue Holiday stepped up with a big performance to lead the 2021 NBA champions to victory.
Holiday finished with a season-high 37 points, to go along with six rebounds and seven assists, as second-place Milwaukee moved closer to Boston atop the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee led 74-67 at halftime but pulled away in the third quarter to effectively seal the win, outscoring Toronto 38-23.
“It was definitely a team effort, everyone just played their hearts out and won,” Holiday said.
In Tuesday’s other game, Joel Embiid scored 41 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-110 on the road.
The Sixers remain third in the Eastern Conference standings at 28-16.
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