NBA Roundup: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets end Celtics winning streak

Jan. 2 – Nikola Jokic has 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as the Denver Nuggets beat the Boston Celtics 123-111 on Sunday night to extend their eighth straight win.

Jokic made 10 of 13 field goal attempts and went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. It was his ninth triple-double of the season. Denver played without starting guard Jamal Murray (injury management). Bruce Brown replaced Murray in the starting line-up and finished with 21 points.

Jaylen Brown (30 points) and Jayson Tatum (25 points) led Boston’s offense. The Celtics, who entered with four consecutive wins, went on to 11 wins and 6 losses. Boston’s interim head coach, Joe Mazura, has returned after missing two games with an eye injury.

The Nuggets led 37-28 after one quarter and 62-54 at halftime. Denver’s first-half lead peaked in the second quarter when he had 15 points. Michael Porter Jr. (19 points), Aaron Gordon (18) and Bones Hyland (17) also scored in his double figures for Denver, giving him an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Grizzlies 118, Kings 108

Ja Morant scored 35 points as hosts Memphis pulled away to beat Sacramento in a stretch to take their third straight win.

Morant scored nine points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies held the Kings to 21 points. Morant had 13 of 23 shots, eight rebounds and five assists. Stephen his Adams equaled a career-high 23 rebounds, including his career-high 13 rebounds in an offensive end.

De’Aaron Fox scored 19 points to lead the Kings, but shot 7 of 18 and committed 5 turnovers as the Kings failed to win three straight. Domantas Sabonis recorded his 13th consecutive double-double on his 18-point and 14-board, and Malik Monk also contributed his 18 points.

Wizards 118, Bucks 95

Rui Hachimura scored 26 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 22, and Washington went on the road to beat a depleted Milwaukee.

Kyle Kuzma also had a great night, completing a triple-double of 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for the second time in his career. Daniel Gafford and Corey Kispert also finished in double digits with 17 and 12 points respectively for the Wizards, who won five in a row.

The Bucks didn’t have the big three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jules Holiday and Chris Middleton. Bobby Portis led an absent Milwaukee with 19 points and he had 10 rebounds, with Jevon Carter scoring his 14th. The Wizards quickly built up a huge lead, and after the first quarter he led 34-17, trailing by as much as 26 points and never looked back.

–Field level media

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