DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 12th triple-double of the NBA season on Monday night, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime on Monday night to take on two of the Western Conference’s top three teams.
Jamal Murray scored 35 points for the Denver Nuggets, including six of the team’s 11 points in overtime. Murray made 14 of 15 free throw attempts.
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The win was the Nuggets’ fifth straight and their first home win since Nov. 8.
In the final 1:40 of regular time, which was tied four times and had four lead changes, Murray tied the game with a free throw after fouling Houston’s Amen Thompson with 2.3 seconds left. Denver retained possession after free throws, but Jokic’s 3-pointer was too far away.
With 2 minutes and 59 seconds left in overtime, Spencer Jones hit a 3-pointer and the Nuggets led 124-117, but the Rockets held the ball to tie with 13 seconds left to tie the score to 3 points. Alperen Sengun missed a contested 24-foot 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds left to preserve Denver’s victory.
Sengun scored 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, recording the Rockets’ first triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant added 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five blocks for Houston, which lost its third straight road game.
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The Nuggets had lost two starters in Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) and played most of the game without starting guard Peyton Watson, who left the game six minutes into the first quarter with a right torso contusion.
Next
Rockets: Play against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
Nuggets: Host the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA